The Hindu Business Line : APL to launch new direct weekly service to Nhava Sheva

GLOBAL container line APL is expanding its coverage of the fast-growing Indian Subcontinent market with the launch of a new direct weekly service to Nhava Sheva, an important gateway to India's western and northern hinterlands.

From November 17, the Singapore Subcontinent Express 2 (SSX2) service will provide weekly services between Singapore and the Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal run by P&O Ports, a top APL official said.

The SSX2 will deploy two vessels, each with a nominal capacity of 1,000 TEU on a port rotation of Singapore, Nhava Sheva, Singapore.

Domestic demand in India for high-end goods, especially consumer electronics, has been growing steadily, and the outlook continues to be buoyant.

"The two vessels in the current Singapore Subcontinent Express (SSX) service have been fully utilised since we launched it in March and customers have been asking for more space on this route. The SSX2 answers the needs of our customers looking to capitalise on this fast-growing trade, offering them greater choice and access to the Indian market", Mr Eng Aik Meng, Vice-President, Intra-Asia Trade, APL, said. The SSX2 offers one of the industry's fastest transit times between Singapore and Nhava Sheva as well as highly competitive transit times between North and Southeast Asia to Nhava Sheva.

Together with the SSX, the SSX2 provides shippers who have cargo originating in China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and South-East Asia with a seamless connection to India's extensive inland network.

Customers are also connected to APL's global network via the key hub of Singapore.

APL is a global container transportation company offering more than 60 weekly services and nearly 300 calls at more than 90 ports in Asia, Europe, the West Asia and the Americas. APL, is the container shipping unit of the Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), a global logistics and transportation company.

APL had recently finalised a joint venture with the State-owned Concor christened Trident Terminals Pvt Ltd to build and operate a container freight station (CFS) within the inland container depot (ICD) located at Dadri in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.The CFS is expected to start operations some time in 2005.