[ TNWA’s GCX Adding Kwangyang ]

According to Shipping and Trade News on Jan 14, 2000 , APL, Hyundai Me
rchant Marine Co.(HMM), and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines(MOL)- members of The N
ew World Alliance(TNWA)- have announced that they will add the South K
orean port of Kwangyang to their direct, weekly U.S.-flag container se
rvice between Qingdao and Los Angeles.
The change to the carrier group’s Guam China Express (GCX) service is
designed to benefit both trans-Pacific and intra-Asia customers, the
lines said.
With the addition of Kwangyang, the service will call at the following
ports: San Pedro (Los Angeles), Oakland, Guam, Naha, Qingdao, Kwangya
ng, Pusan, Nagoya, Yokohama, San Pedro (Los Angeles).
It will become effective with the sailing of President Grant on Januar
y 17 from Kwangyang to Los Angeles.
TNWA said North American importers of merchandise produced in the sout
h-western region of South Korea and certain interior points will now h
ave additional options for shipping directly from Kwangyang rather tha
n having to first relay their shipments overland to Pusan on South Kor
ea’s southeastern coast.
Use of Kwangyang will save these customers both drayage expense and ot
her logistical costs, TNWA said.
Transit time from Kwangyang to Los Angeles will be 13 days.
Among the commodities moving in this trade will be electronic White Go
odes such as refrigerators and washing machines; Petrochemical product
s and paper goods.
Similarly, North American exports to the southwestern region of Korea,
which include food products, chemical products and raw materials, wil
l benefit from having an additional weekly service to Kwangyang.