The honour of inaugurating the New World Alliance’s fourth loop in the Europe-Asia service has gone to Hyundai Merchant Marine, one of the three members of the Alliance, which has deployed eight vessels in the service.

The new loop, which links up Port Klang directly, is seen as significant development as shippers in Malaysia using the services of the Alliance members, including the Singapore-owned APL-NOL, need no longer transship cargo via Singapore.

The move which also serves to underline the growing importance of the role played by Hyundai in the Alliance, which include two other – APL-NOL and Mitsui Orient Line – is expected to further strengthened the rapidly expanding S Korean shipping line’s presence in the Malaysian market

The new loop in New World Alliance’s Asia-Europe trade, better known as Asia Europe Express service, will be served by Hyundai’s eight post panamax container ships.

"The service is operated entirely by HMM with eight 5,550 TEUs capacity carriers. The first vessel, Hyundai Fortune will make her maiden voyage on June 12 at Northport, Port Klang," said the General Manager of Hyundai Merchant Marine (M) Sdn Bhd, Chiu Ching Siang.

Prior to this direct service at Port Klang, all Malaysian origin cargoes were transhipped via Singapore on the Japan Express and the China Express. With the new service, New World Alliance members - Hyundai Merchant Marince, APL-NOL and Mitsui OSK Lines - offer direct connections to four major ports in Europe namely Le Havre, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Southampton.

"We provide one of the best transit times for Malaysian shippers dealing directly with European countries. Our vessels can deliver containers bound to France via Le Havre Port in record time of 15 days. In addition to that we are one of the few carriers in the trade to give wider port of coverage in a single string," stressed Chiu.

The port rotation of the new service covers Kwangyang, Pusan, Hakata, Kaohsuing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Port Klang, Le Havre, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Southampton and sailed back to North Asia.

“Starting of a new service to Europe shows the commitment of the New World Alliance to the Malaysian market. Although there are some pressure on the freight rate and slowing down of the trade, we believe this is a temporary phenomenon. We have our obligation to our loyal customers' requirement," said Chiu.

Chui said early this year HMM inaugurated a direct service under the Korean Middle East Service.

“We have deployed a total of six carriers in the range of 2,200 TEUs in the KMS service, which has reduced transit time greatly and helped to put Malaysian shippers in a competitive position in the Middle East market,” he said.

Chui added the company will start a new Europe-China Express beginning middle this month even though there is widespread talk about a slow down and “all this show we are customers oriented carrier”.