Container shipping giant APL and US island of Guam celebrated the New Year with APL Saipan’s maiden call at the Port of Guam on 2 January, officially launching the weekly service for the Guam Saipan Express (GSX).
The US-flagged APL Saipan joins its sister ship the US-flagged APL Guam, which first arrived in Guam a year ago. The GSX service now has its frequency doubled, capacity increased by over two-fold, and transit time from the US mainland to Guam and Saipan improved by three days,APL said in a press release.
“APL’s enhanced GSX service is designed with the inputs of customers for customers. In particular, retailers in Guam and Saipan can now benefit from GSX’s improved frequency and transit time with a weekly arrival that is just ahead of every weekend, facilitating in-store inventory for weekend shoppers. APL will keep engaging our customers so that we offer the most relevant and cost effective cargo transportation solutions, whether from the US mainland, Asia, Europe or anywhere else in the world,” said John Selleck, APL general manager, Guam/Micronesia.
Supported by the 1,100-TEU APL Guam, and now the 1,600-TEU APL Saipan, the GSX service will call at the ports of Busan (Korea), Yokohama (Japan), Guam and Saipan every week.
The GSX service strategically connects Guam and Saipan to nearly anywhere in the world through its global shipping network in Yokohama and Busan, APL said. From the two markets, the GSX service also facilitates cargo shipments from the US mainland to Guam and Saipan via connecting weekly US flag Eagle Express service (EX1).
The APL Saipan was scheduled to make its maiden call at its namesake Port of Saipan in the US Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands yesterday (3 January).
