APL increases Japan coverage with MOL tie-up

SINGAPORE, 07 Dec 2011

APL today announced that it will enhance its Japan to Thailand and Philippines coverage as a slot operator in a tie-up with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL). The new service, named Japan-Thailand-Philippine (JTP) service, will enhance APL’s coverage of Japanese ports, in particular those of Tokyo, Yokohama, Shimizu and Nagoya.

“Introducing the weekly JTP service will strengthen APL’s Intra-Asia shortsea network and better serve key production and consumption markets in the region,” said Jason Wong, APL Vice President for Intra-Asia Trade. “The service will support a dynamic trade circle from Thailand and Philippines to Japan.”

The new service provides APL customers direct access to markets in Shimizu and Nagoya. It also links Korea to the Southeast Asian markets of Thailand and the Philippines.

Mr Wong added: “JTP offers one of the industry’s best transit times between Japan and Thailand, and the Philippines to Japan.”

Port rotation for the JTP service will be: Tokyo, Yokohama, Shimizu, Nagoya, Pusan, Laem Chabang, Manila and Tokyo. The first sailing will commence from Tokyo on December 10 with the MOL Sparkle.

About APL
APL is a global container shipping business offering more than 80 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 and logistics company. APL Web site: www.apl.com

NOL press release