Global shipping leader APL makes move to Phoenix

Parent company NOL Group opens new Americas headquarters with staff of 300

Phoenix, Arizona, 28 Sep, 2009: Global shipping leader APL today announced upgrades to its twice-a-week Miami service connecting the U.S. to Central America. NOL Group, parent company of container shipping leader APL, opened its new Americas headquarters here today and said it’s now better positioned than ever to support growth in global trade.

"We've got a new home and a keener focus on how best to serve international shippers," said John Bowe, President of the Americas for Singapore-based NOL. "We’re in the perfect place to help customers manage their global supply chains."

Singapore-based NOL has relocated its Americas headquarters from Oakland, Calif, to a new building at 16220 N. Scottsdale Road in Phoenix. NOL said the move to Phoenix was prompted by a desire to reduce headquarters costs and co-locate business units from around the country that need to work closely together.

NOL employs about 300 people in Phoenix. Approximately half of those were hired locally. The remainder transferred from Oakland and other U.S. locations. More than 2,000 people work for NOL throughout the Americas.

"We're now centrally located to manage our operations throughout the Americas," said Bowe. "What's more, we've got adjacent functions all under the same roof and the result will be better, more responsive service for our customers."

NOL's primary business is 160-year-old APL, the world's fifth-largest container shipping line. It also owns APL Logistics, the global supply chain management business, and a Terminals division that manages four U.S. West Coast terminals and two others in Asia.

Staff in the new Phoenix headquarters will oversee all of those activities for NOL in North, Central and South America.

The company provides container transportation and logistics support for many of the largest multinational corporations. APL's fleet of 140 container ships connects the U.S. to Asia, Europe and Latin America. The shipping line also manages rail and truck transport for customers’ cargo in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

About APL
APL is a global container shipping business offering more than 60 weekly services and more than 500 calls at more than 140 ports worldwide. It combines world-class intermodal operations with leading-edge IT and e-commerce. APL is a unit of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), global shipping, logistics and marine terminals company. APL Web site: www.apl.com

About APL Logistics
APL Logistics provides international, end-to-end logistics services for global customers employing the latest IT and data connectivity for maximum supply-chain visibility and control. APL Logistics is a unit of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines, a global shipping, terminals and logistics company. APL Logistics Web site: www.apllogistics.com

About NOL
Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) is a Singapore-based global container shipping, terminals and logistics company. Its container shipping arm, APL, provides world-class container shipping services and intermodal operations supported by leading-edge IT and e-commerce. Its Terminals unit has one of the world's leading container terminal networks, with key gateway facilities in Asia and North America. Its logistics business, APL Logistics, provides international, end-to-end logistics services and solutions, employing the latest IT and data connectivity for maximum supply chain visibility and control. NOL Web site: www.nol.com.sg.

APL Web site: www.apl.com