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The expanding network of shipping connectivity at Northport in Port Klang
received a major boost in the second quarter of this year with new services
mounted by several major shipping lines.
Northport which received a total of 14 new services in the first five months
period of this year further stretched its lead as the only Malaysian port
with the most extensive shipping connectivity. Maersk Line mounted eight of
the above new services in April with three maiden calls to
Europe/Mediterranean and five Regional Feeder Services.
The first Maersk service that rolled out of Northport was inaugurated by,
Maersk Driscoll that berthed at Northport on 19th April under the Asia
Europe East bound service (AE9) which links Port Klang (Northport), Port of
Tanjung Pelepas in Johor and Laem Chabang in Thailand.
The inaugurating services by Maersk Driscoll was followed by the maiden
voyage by Maersk Dieppe which called Northport on 21 April 2006 before
sailing to Southampton via the Suez Canal. The service connects Northport
with four other ports in Europe namely Rotterdam, Bremenhaven, Cagliari and
Salalah.
Its Asia/Europe 6 Westbound service connects Northport in Port Klang with
Port Said, Cagliari, Genoa, Barcelona, Fos, Cagliari, Jebel Ali, Tanjung
Pelepas, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung and Shanghai.
In strengthening its transshipment base at Northport and to support its
mainline services, Maersk has started five regional loops. Maersk feeder
arm, MCC Transport has commenced two weekly sailings to Vietnam and also
offers a weekly sailing to Belawan port in Indonesia and Laem Chabang.
Arising from the services mounted by Maersk, Northport is connected to Ho
Chi Minh in Vietnam and to all major seaports in Vietnam namely Hi Phong,
Qui Nhon and Nhatrang.
The southbound service of the North Vietnam One Service started with a
maiden call by MCC Confidence on 19 April 2006. The southbound service links
Port Klang, Penang, Tanjung Pelepas, Hi Phong, Qui Nhon, Nhatrang and Port
of Tanjung Pelepas while the northbound includes Port Klang and Penang Port.
The increasing number of MLOs services at Northport has also created
opportunities for more dedicated and common feeder service operators to
mount service at Northport.
In this regard, the entry of Destiny Merchant Marine was a significant move.
The new regional operator mounted a weekly service linking Northport to
ports in Sabah/Sarawak and covering Pasir Gudang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching,
Singapore and Muara port in Brunei.
Another Malaysian operator, Shin Yang Shipping started a Kota Kinabalu
direct service from Northport. The service, which started with Danum52 has
enhanced direct connectivity for shippers in Sabah.
During the same period, Star Navigation started a common feeder operation in
the Port Klang- Penang-Pasir Gudang-Port of Tanjung Pelepas sector effective
16 May 2006.
Regional feeder specialist, Samudera Shipping further strengthened its
feeder connectivity with the start of the MSX2 service effective March 5,
2006. The service connects shippers in Port Klang and Penang sector and the
Port Klang and Singapore sector.
Consistent with the expanding trade with India and China, the introduction
of the China India Express service by consortium members comprising of Wan
Hai Line, Hapag-Lloyd and Evergreen was significant. The consortium members
also started the Chennai India Express service with the call by Bermudian
Express at Northport on 8 May 2006. The Eastbound service links Port Klang –
Singapore – Kaohsiung – Hong Kong – Shekou – Singapore and Westbound service
connects Port Klang - Colombo and Nhava Sheva.
Wan Hai Lines has also launched the New Super III Service in March by
deploying its own three 1,662 teus vessels on NS3 service with full port of
rotation covers Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kobe, Hong Kong, Shekou, Singapore
and Port Klang.
On the other hand Hong Kong based Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) also
started a Middle-East service during the month of May. The Eastbound service
connects Port Klang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong,
Shekou and Singapore.
Gold Star Line and Sea Consortium also initiated a weekly service to the
India sub-continent. The Straits India service by the operators links Port
Klang and Madras directly and took off with the arrival of Eagle Pioneer at
Northport on 16 May 2006 while another carrier, PACC started a direct
Chittagong service to cater for the Bangladesh market |
