South Korean intra-Asia carrier Heung-A Line has reorganised its Japan-Pyeongtaek Express (JPX) service between South Korea and western Japan, as demand became sluggish amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
Originally, Heung-A Line’s service began from Pyeongtaek and Gwangyang ports in South Korea, calling at Gwangyang, but falling cargo volumes caused the company to move the South Korean leg to Busan North Port and Busan New Port.
Two ships, the 1,100TEU Methi Bhum and 900TEU Nawata Bhum, both chartered from Regional Container Lines, are deployed to the reorganised JPX service, which began 5 April 2020.
The service loop is Busan North Port (Sinseondae Terminal), Busan New Port (Pusan Newport International Terminal), Niigata, Sakata, Akita and Busan. The Sakata call is an addition to the new JPX service.
Heung-A Line, formerly the liner unit of Heung-A Shipping, is now a full subsidiary of Sinokor Merchant Marine, after being sold off by its former heavily indebted parent.
With more cargo flows to and from western Japan, Heung-A Line has expanded its Japan South West 1 (JSW1) and 2 (JSW2) services.
JSW1 has an added call to Hamada, Japan, while JSW2 has new calls at Kanazawa and Toyama. Both services will move containers from Busan to various ports along Japan’s southwestern coast, such as Sakaiminato and Maizuru
JSW1 is served by the 1,100TEU Pacific Monaco and JSW2 is served by the 700TEU Contship Box.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
