TS Lines launches US west coast and Middle East services

TS LINES has launched a transpacific CAE loop and a CME-2 Middle East service with a plan to open a Far East-US route in April, said a company statement.

The carrier has deployed five 3,000-TEU, 22-knot vessels on the CAE route, calling at Hong Kong, Shenzhen-Yantian, Xiamen, Shanghai, Ningbo, Long Beach-LA and back to Hong Kong.


The CME-2 Middle East service deploys six 3,500-TEU, 22-knot ships, calling at Tianjin Xingang, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen-Shekou, Singapore, Kelang, Jebel Ali, Kelang and back to Tianjin Xingang.


The new US west coast service is expected to be launched in April next year with east China and south China routes, covering Vietnam, south China and Taiwan markets.


In addition to mid- and long-haul loops, TS Lines is keen to expand its Asian services. It started an Australian service in June and a Vietnamese HPH service in October, calling at Hong Kong, Hai Phong, Fangcheng and back to Hong Kong.


For container renewal, the carrier has acquired 16,000 TEU since the beginning of the year, in which 10,000 TEU was bought in October amounting to US$22 million. Since the end of last year, the carrier has renewed 40,000 TEU to enhance the quality of the containers.


Negotiations with ship builders are also in progress for vessels suitable for mid- to long-haul and Asian sailings, said the company statement.


Also, the company has purchased a new office in Seoul after doing so in Shanghai and Hong Kong.


With close times to Taiwan, TS Lines has expressed interest in going public there. It has acquired an office in Kaohsiung, the leading port of Taiwan, to expand the business in the island.


Founded in 2001, TS Lines operates 39 routes with a fleet of 42 vessels ranging from 1,000 to 3,500 TEU. Possessing a total capacity of 90,000 TEU, the carrier ranks 22nd worldwide, according to the company`s statement. It expects to handle a total of 1.55 million TEU with an annual turnover of TWD27 billion by the end of the year.