NST, July 29th, 2002 - Despite some uncertainties in the freight market, linear operators continued to expand their services by exploring some new lucrative volume markets including at Westport in Port Klang.

Westport managed to secure nine additional services in the first half of this year.

For the first time Regional Container Line, Shipping Corp of India, Pacific International Lines and Dognama started direct long-haul services from Westport container handling facilities at Pulau Indah.

Taiwanese giant Evergreen strengthened its network at Westport with inclusion of three new sailings per week. The additional services mounted by the Taiwanese operator at Westport come in wake of its reported switch from its regional hub at Singapore to Port of Tanjung Pelepas.

Effective June 13 this year, Evergreen Uniglory and Lloyds Triestino inaugurated a new weekly service to the West Asian ports. Port Said and Jeddah have been added in the new service rotation.

The new link raised the total port of coverage by the carrier in West Asian market to five from three ports of call previously. The West Asian service links Port Klang shippers with Port Said, Jeddah and Colombo.

Prior to the new service, Evergreen had six regular sailings from Westport to more than 30 ports around the world.

For the first time, Uniglory, a subsidiary of Evergreen, joined hand with the Samudera Shipping to mount a regular weekly service from Westport to serve the fast-growing in Northern China.

The weekly service started June 15 and connects Port Klang with three major ports namely Hong Kong, Shanghai and Xiamen.

Evergreen through its subsidiary, Llyod Triestino, has beefed up its present at Westport with a direct weekly sailings to Australia.

The first-ever service from Westport to Australia connects ports of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Lloyd Triestino jointly operates the service with Regional Container Line and Hanjin Shipping from Singapore to Port Klang effective second quarter of this year.

Westport's connections to the US have also been expanded with new service mounted by China Shipping Container Line.

The US service has further strengthened China Shipping's transhipment base at Port Klang.

The Line will be continued to feeder boxes from other parts of the region such as Indonesia and the Indian sub-continent via its connectivity at Westport.

The Line will be continued to feeder boxes from other parts of the region such as Indonesia and the Indian sub-continent via its connectivity at Westport.

The twice-weekly service to US market connects Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Vancouver and Oakland.

The service connects eight major countries major countries namely the US, China, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Singapore, India and Malaysia with some 20 ports in single string.

The presence of China Shipping has enhanced Malaysian shippers choice to the US market to eight carriers per week.

Among the carriers plying in the Transpacific route are APL, CMA, CGM, Norasia, National Shipping Corp of Saudi Arabia, Evergreen, Uniglory and Lloyds Triestino.

Among the carriers plying in the Transpacific route are APL, CMA, CGM, Norasia, National Shipping Corp of Saudi Arabia, Evergreen, Uniglory and Lloyds Triestino.

Westport has also strengthened its connectivity to the Bay of Bengal with Chennai Service, Chittagong Service and India Far-East Express Service 2 service.

The Chennai Service mounted by Bengal Tiger line and Advance Container line while HRC Shipping has started Chittagong Service in the first quarter of the year.

Meanwhile, the Japan-based K Line, Shipping Corp of India, Pacific International Lines and Dongnama started India Far-East Express Service 2 in the second quarter of this year.

The full port of rotation of the service covers Chennai, Port Klang, Singapore, Pasir Gudang, Hong Kong, Dalian, Xingang, Yantian, Qingdao Hong Kong, Singapore and Port Klang on every Friday from Westport.

Feeder network service to Indonesian port of Panjang has been introduced jointly by Goldstar line and Feeder Associate System, the feeder arm of the CMA CGM.