TS Lines gears up operations to link Korea, China and Thailand

TS LINES has announced its cooperation with KMTC from December 16 to launch CHT service linking up Korea, China and Thailand.

The two shipping lines will deploy three 1,800-TEU vessels on the service, with TS lines providing two. CHT service will cover a closer and convenient rotation: Incheon, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Lam Chabang, Bangkok, Lam Chabang, Hong Kong, Xiamen and back to Incheon.

TS Lines will also conduct slot swap on KMTC's ANX service covering Korea and China with a port rotation of Incheon, Busan, Ulsan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Lam Chabang, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, Shenzhen (Shekou), Hong Kong and back to Incheon.

"Despite this year's shipping market being filled with difficulties, we will carryon with our plan to renew container equipment to provide reliable service. We will supply more reefer containers next year to guarantee quality shipment of fresh vegetables and fruit for another as well as introduce technically higher grade of reefer containers with a view to environmental protection," said a TS Lines statement.

The company expects to reduce charter costs as some ship leases come to expiration next year by which there will be an increase capacity on India-Mideast run to improve service performance.

TS Lines' transport volume came to 1.15 million TEU last year, ranking among the world's top 30 shipping lines. The shipping line estimates that its volume will increase 1.7 per cent to 1.17 million TEU in 2009.

The shipping lines currently operates 26 vessels from 1,000 to 3,000 TEU covering main Asian countries like China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Iran. TS Lines has also invested US$10 million to set up a branch in Shanghai this year after starting Shanghai business in October.

(Source: Shipping Gazette)