HMM Adds 3 Temporary Vessels in the US West Coast... Win-Win Cooperation with Domestic Export Companies

Last 7, the 6800 TEU-class container ship 'HMM Shanghai' departed from Busan Port, carrying export companies' cargo and headed to the Port of Los Angeles, USA.

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] HMM announced on the 8th that it will deploy three additional temporary vessels to support the smooth export activities of domestic companies.

All three vessels will be deployed on the West Coast of the Americas route, where domestic small and medium-sized export companies have continuously faced space allocation difficulties.

The first vessel to depart, the 6,800 TEU container ship ‘HMM Shanghai’, carrying 5,868 TEU of cargo, set sail from Busan Port on the 7th. More than 50% of the total cargo loaded belongs to domestic medium and small shippers. It is scheduled to arrive at the Port of LA on the 19th of this month.

The 6,300 TEU container ship ‘HMM Auckland’ will depart on the 19th and is expected to arrive at the Port of LA on the 30th of this month, while the 5,000 TEU ‘HMM Prestige’ will depart Busan Port on the 1st of next month and is scheduled to arrive at the Port of LA on May 12.

Since August last year until March this year, HMM has deployed a total of 17 temporary vessels: 9 on the West Coast of the Americas (Busan~LA), 3 on the East Coast of the Americas (Busan~Savannah, Busan~New York), 3 to Russia, 1 to Europe, and 1 to Vietnam. Including the three temporary vessels departing this time, the total reaches 20 vessels.

Meanwhile, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, maritime cargo volume contracted in the first half of last year but surged from the second half, leading to a shortage of space on the Americas routes, causing difficulties for domestic export companies in securing space.

An HMM official stated, “As part of the win-win cooperation with domestic shippers, we plan to continuously support the smooth export activities of domestic companies,” adding, “As a leading national shipping company, we will take responsibility and make every effort to ensure that exporters’ cargo is transported safely and without disruption.”