OOCL offers regular Qingdao-Japan route

Orient Overseas Container Line has announced the launch of the Qingdao-Japan Express Service (QJX) linking northern China and Japan.

The service, offered jointly with Shandong Yantai International Marine Shipping Co, started on Thursday from Qingdao.

OOCL (Asia-Pacific) director of intra-Asia trade Stephen Ng said a dedicated service to meet increasing demand for general and reefer goods was a reflection of the company's commitment to the area.

He said importers and exporters of products including garments and textiles, wooden products, foodstuffs, stoneware and chemicals would benefit from fast and reliable delivery.

Three vessels will be deployed for the service which offers two sailings from Qingdao to Japan weekly. Transit time is three days from Qingdao to Kobe and four days to Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka.

The port rotation is Qingdao (Thursday), Yokohama (Monday), Tokyo (Monday), Qingdao (Saturday), Kobe (Wednesday), Osaka (Thursday) and Nagoya (Friday).