MOL and RCL Fuse South Asia Strings
A Thai-based container shipping line Regional Container Lines (RCL) has linked up one its current Thailand-Singapore strings (RTS) with its existing Singapore-Yangon service (RSY).
The combined rotation will include Thai Prosperity Terminal (TPT) – Singapore – Yangon – Port Klang (North port) – Singapore – TPT.
This will be a 3-vessel, 21-day joint service with its current RSY partner Mitsui OSK Lines. RCL will contribute two vessels, with MOL one vessel in this rotation.
The RTY service (RCL Thai Yangon) will commence its maiden voyage with the Xetha Bhum departing Singapore on April 29, 2015 and arriving Yangon on May 3, 2015, before starting its voyage towards Port Klang-Singapore-TPT-Singapore-Yangon.
MOL will follow with the Mathu Bhum exactly a week later with RCL providing Yantra Bhum as the third vessel the following week in the same rotation.
”There have traditionally been strong trading links between Thailand and Myanmar. Current imports to Myanmar from Thailand will in fact rank amongst the top 3 countries in Asia in container terms,” Sumate Tanthuwanit, President of RCL, said.
”Our customers have asked us to provide weekly direct service between Thailand and Yangon and we feel that this is now the right time to do so, since the trade continues to grow strongly. At the same time, we are also responding to the needs of our main line customers who have requested for direct service from Yangon to Thailand, given that Yangon is still a surplus region at this stage of their development, while there is still high demand of boxes in Thailand for exports.”
Image: Shipspotting
