Container line Maersk’s new direct service between Vietnam’s Vung Tau and Los Angeles launched on Thursday with the departure of the 9,000 TEU Mathilde Maersk.
The 13-ship loop will depart every Wednesday from the SP-PSA International Port in Vung Tau and hit Los Angeles 18 days later, reported Vietnam Net.
“This is a fantastic day for us,” said Peter Smidt-Nielsen, general director of Maersk Line Vietnam.
“We have worked intensively for more than a year to meet our customers’ demand for a direct call to the US West Coast, and the challenge has been to ensure safety and security when entering the Cai Mep-Thi Vai River, considering the size of the vessel and draft limitations.”
The new route will stop in Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia, Yantian in China and Hong Kong before reaching Los Angeles, and will stop at ports in Japan, China and Malaysia on the return voyage.
“I believe that containerized trade will continue to grow, and this offers great opportunities in an emerging market like Vietnam,” said Jesper Praestensgaard, CEO of Maersk Line, Asia Pacific.
