Northport Welcomes Wan Hai Lines’ Asia – US East Coast Service
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NORTHPORT WELCOMES WAN HAI LINES’ NEW ASIA - US EAST COAST SERVICE
PORT KLANG, 2 November 2021 – Northport (Malaysia) Bhd (“Northport”), a member of the MMC Group welcomed Wan Hai Lines’ independent new service connecting Asia and the East Coast of North America. The new service, which was launched in June 2021, and known as AA7 Service, made its maiden voyage through Malaysian waters to Northport on 2 November 2021.
“Northport is delighted to be one of the ports of call for Wan Hai Lines’ AA7 service that connects Asia and the United States (US) East Coast. For Northport, this service is very important as it is the first service that connects our port with ports in the US since April 2017. We believe that the direct service from Port Klang to the US East Coast will further enhance the capacity and competency of Malaysian ports, especially in connecting our local exporters and importers with the US markets, within competitive transit time,” said Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof, Northport’s Chief Executive Officer.
According to Wan Hai Lines, the call at Northport terminal is an expansion of its AA7 service to strengthen the network between Asia and the US East Coast, in anticipation of a continuous and strong demand in both markets. The AA7 service is operated by eleven (11) container vessels with a capacity of 2,800 to 4,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit). The rotation of AA7 service includes the ports of Ningbo (China), Taipei (Taiwan), Xiamen (China), Shekou (China), Cai Mep (Vietnam), Port Klang – Northport (Malaysia), New York (US East Coast), Savannah (US East Coast) and Ningbo (China).
Wan Hai Lines’ business relationship with Northport goes back more than three (3) decades ago with the commencement of its Singapore/Malaysia service at Northport, (then known as Klang Container Terminal or KCT) in June 1989, with only 7,500 TEUs handled in that year. Wan Hai Lines has grown significantly ever since and in 2015, the Taiwan-based shipping line became the first shipping line in Northport to successfully hit one (1) million TEUs in a single year. Wan Hai Lines, which offers the most comprehensive service network in the Far East with more than 85 services, is Northport’s biggest customer in terms of container throughput. Currently, Wan Hai Lines is the 10th largest container shipping line in the world with a fleet of 149 vessels.
According to the statistics from the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), Malaysia’s trade with the US increased by 21% in the first eight (8) months this year, from RM114.11 billion (Jan-Aug 2020) to RM137.58 billion (Jan-Aug 2021). Exports were at RM89.95 billion while imports were at RM47.63 billion. The US is currently Malaysia’s third largest trading partner.
“We believe that this new service will open up more opportunities for our local shippers to expand their market into the world’s largest economies. Demand for warehouse space for regional distribution to fulfill the needs of US-based companies is also expected to increase. This service will also further strengthen our business relationship with Wan Hai Lines on the foundation of excellent service quality, reliability and trust,” added Dato’ Azman.
Photo caption : Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof, Chief Executive Officer of Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, (4th from left) and Wallace Hu, Country Chief & Executive Vice President of Wan Hai Lines (M) Sdn Bhd (4th from right) during the maiden call of Wan Hai Lines’ AA7 Service at Northport on 2 November 2021.
ABOUT NORTHPORT (MALAYSIA) BHD
Northport (Malaysia) Bhd (Northport) is one of the largest multi-purpose gateway ports of its kind in the national ports system. Northport is grouped under MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd (MMC Ports), Malaysia’s largest integrated logistics service provider. MMC Ports is a wholly- owned subsidiary of MMC Corporation Berhad, a leading utilities and infrastructure group with diversified businesses under four divisions, namely Ports and Logistics, Energy and Utilities, Engineering, and Industrial Development.
Northport offers dedicated facilities and services to handle a wide variety of cargoes ranging from containers to cars, break bulk cargoes as well as liquid and dry bulk cargoes of all types and shipment sizes.
With a historical tradition dating back more than 100 years, Northport plays an important role in the development of the Malaysian economy and the country’s burgeoning international trade.
Northport is the winner of Malaysia’s Best Seaport – Outstanding Performance Award presented by the Ministry of Transport Malaysia for two consecutive years, in conjunction with the Malaysia World Maritime Week 2016 and 2017.
Northport holds the distinction of being the first port in Malaysia to be awarded the ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 37001:2016 standards, the winner of the prestigious National Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH) Award 2019 in the Business Services category and the Best Port Safety Management Award from the Ministry of Transport Malaysia in 2021.
Enquiries : Please log on to www.northport.com.my or call Azmi Anis, Head of Corporate Communications, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, tel: 012 – 3207755 / +603-3169 8776.
ABOUT MMC CORPORATION BERHAD
MMC Corporation Berhad (MMC Group) is a leading utilities and infrastructure group with diversified businesses under four divisions, namely Ports and Logistics, Energy and Utilities, Engineering, and Industrial Development.
Its key businesses under the Ports and Logistics division include the port operations of Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, Johor Port Berhad, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, Tanjung Bruas Port Sdn Bhd and Kontena Nasional Berhad, a logistics provider. Internationally, MMC has presence in Saudi Arabia via Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company Limited, a container port terminal within the Jeddah Islamic Port.
Under the Energy and Utilities division, MMC is the single largest shareholder of both Malakoff Corporation Berhad, the country’s largest Independent Power Producer and Gas Malaysia Berhad, a total energy solutions provider. Through Aliran Ihsan Resources Berhad, we are a pioneer in wastewater recycling technology and a water treatment specialist.
MMC’s Engineering division has played a leading role for the implementation of the entire project including the underground works package in completing the 51 km Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) Sungai Buloh-Kajang project (SBK Line) and is now the main contractor for the entire Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya project (SSP Line). MMC is also currently, undertaking key civil and infrastructure projects in the country namely Langat Centralised Sewerage Treatment Plant and Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant.
Notably, MMC completed the 329 km Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrified Double Tracking Project and the innovative Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) motorway, the first of its kind, dual-purpose tunnel in the world.
MMC’s Industrial Development division develops and manages approximately 5,000 acres of industrial developments in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor and Kulim, Kedah, which includes the Senai Airport City, Tanjung Bin Industrial Park and the Northern Technocity.
In other business, MMC wholly-owns Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd, the operator of Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru – an emerging southern aviation hub and important gateway to Iskandar Malaysia.
Enquiries : Please log on to www.mmc.com.my or call Azlina Ashar, Head of Group Corporate Communications, MMC Corporation Berhad, tel:+603 2071 1124.
