Speedier Mexican service launched
AMERICAN President Lines (APL) and Transportacion Maritima Mexicana (TMM) will jointly offer a weekly, fixed-day, all-water container service between Asia and ports on the Pacific coast of Mexico this month.
The service, the first of its kind linking the two markets, will cut the voyage time from Hong Kong to southern California by six days to 13 days.
From Los Angeles to Yokohama, two days will be cut from Mexican Line's 13-day transit.
Cargo originating from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea will move on one of seven container ships bound directly for the Mexican ports of Manzanillo and Lazaro Caqrdenas.
The vessels will use APL's terminal facilities in Kobe and Kaohsiung.
Cargo originating at outlying Asian ports will be relayed to TMM vessels at Taiwan or Japan via APL container ships.
Both carriers will offer door-to-door service to and from key interior points in Mexico. APL already offers an intermodal option which combines transPacific ocean carriage to the US west coast with rail or truck connections to Mexico. Under its Mexican Line operation, TMM will also improve its regular container service between Asia and the US, through its alliance with APL.
By using slots on APL's trans-Pacific vessels, the TMM service will extend to Oakland and Seattle.
