Hanjin Shipping confirmed it plans to introduce a new AWE service, the AWE-6, from Asia to the U.S. East Coast via the Suez Canal next year. Hanjin said the port rotation of the new service has not yet been decided because it is still discussing port coverage and the time of launch with Cosco, “K” Line and Yang Ming, its partners in the CKYH alliance, which will participate in the service. The new service, which would be the sixth all-water service to the U.S. operated by a member of the CKYH alliance, reportedly will call at Vietnam’s Port of Vung Tau, where Hanjin’s NE5 service from Asia to Europe also calls. The CKYH alliance’s AWE-4 service from Asia to the U.S. East Coast via the Suez Canal started direct calls at Cai Mep terminal in Vietnam’s Port of Ho Chi Minh City in August 2009. “K” Line operates the AWE-4 service in conjunction with MOL on behalf of the CKYH alliance. Hanjin already operates its own SJX service from Asia to the U.S. West Coast, which has direct calls at Cai Mep. The Journal of Commerce Online |