Hanjin to Launch Direct Vietnam-U.S. Service

Hanjin Shipping became the third major container line in a month to announce it is launching a direct service between Vietnam and the United States. Hanjin’s service will start June 21, when the first ships on the new SJX (South East & Japan Express) service leave Port Kelang. The service will deploy six 4,000-TEU class ships.

APL launched its service June 3 at the SP-PSA International Port, the first deepwater terminal in Vietnam, which started operations on May 29 on the Thi Vai River.

Transloading from river barges from Cambodia at the new deep-water terminal, MOL called on June 3 and 4 at the Tan Cang Cai Mep terminal, another new deep-sea port in the area.

Hanjin said it developed the service to target the Vietnamese and South East Asian markets, which are showing constant growth despite the global economic recession.

The service is also aimed at meeting growing demand by U.S. importers for direct service from Vietnam, according to William Rooney, Hanjin Shipping's managing director for North and South America.

Hanjin said that by adding SJX calls at Ho Chi Minh City to the current HES (Haiphong Express Service) calling Haiphong, the company will be able to provide its customers with stable service to the economic centers of Vietnam.

The new terminal in Cai Mep, the port serving Ho Chi Minh City, is a deep-water port close to the sea, which can accommodate mega-sized vessels. Also, the restrictions caused by tides will soon be improved enabling timely vessel operation.

In addition, as SJX is calling the Japanese ports, the existing CAX (China America Express) will be omitting the Japanese ports, which will reduce the transit time from Shanghai, China, and Busan, S. Korea, to the U.S.

Beginning from July 7, the rotation of the SJX service will be: Port Kelang, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Yantian, Osaka, Tokyo, Long Beach, Oakland, Tokyo and back to Port Kelang.

Until July 7, the service will call at Hong Kong instead of Ho Chi Minh City.

Contact Peter T. Leach at pleach@joc.com.