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Hyundai’s New Asia-Europe Express Service Offers Best Transit Times

Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) launched its new Asia-North Europe Express (AEX) service that included Port of Colombo, in April from Pusan. The AEX service which is independently run by HMM offers exporters the fastest transit times to Europe base ports that will benefit them in meeting the timelines of their buyers with time sensitive shipments.

The first vessel on the AEX service mv ‘Hyundai Forward’ made its maiden call at the Port of Colombo on the 22nd of April berthing at the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT).

AEX Service brings immense benefits to the importers sourcing shipments with direct sailings from the base ports of Korea, China and Taiwan, improving the supply chains and minimising delays. Shipping & Cargo Logistics, a subsidiary of Aitken Spence is the local agent for HMM in Sri Lanka.

This new service includes port rotation in Pusan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Kaohsiung, Yantian, Singapore, Colombo, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Southampton on the westbound voyage.

The Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, commented that “We express our gratitude to HMM for choosing Colombo as one of its port of call and promoting Colombo as the transshipment hub for the Indian Subcontinent region. We assure that the Jaya Container Terminal and the Port of Colombo would afford all facilities to enhance transshipment volumes being routed through the Port of Colombo”.

Mr. D H Oh, Managing Director of HMM HQ – India expressed his confidence in the Port of Colombo and stated that HMM was laying greater emphasis on the Indian Subcontinent region with the opening of the Regional HQ in Mumbai and he expected more services to call at Colombo. He also mentioned the expansion plans of HMM where an order for 12 x 20000 TEU and 8 x 14000 TEUS vessels had been placed and by 2020. The 20000 TEU vessels will be deployed on the AEX service which will call at Colombo. He was excited at the development plans of the Port of Colombo and was looking forward for HMM to be a big player in Colombo in the very near future.

An exchange of plaques between the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake and Mr. D H Oh, Managing Director of HMM Regional HQ India to commemorate the maiden call of the AEX independent service at JCT was held on 23rd April. Also present at the ceremony were Mr. Jayantha Perera, Director Operation-SLPA, Mr. Upul Jayatissa, Chief Manager Marketing and Business Development-SLPA, Mr. Y D Park and Mr. Jitin Joshi from HMM Regional HQ India. The local agents of HMM in Sri Lanka was represented by Mr. Bevin Mack, General Manager of Shipping and Cargo Logistics (Pvt) Ltd along with Mr. Iqram Cuttilan, Chief Executive Officer of Aitken Spence Maritime sector.