UWL has contracted Swire Shipping to launch a brand-new express service between Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and the Port of Seattle.
This marks the first dedicated ocean service by a non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) in the trade.
Customers can benefit from priority berthing at both locations and dedicated equipment for suppliers in Ho Chi Minh City. This includes 6,000 ocean containers.
“We are thrilled to add this service to our portfolio of offerings,” said UWL President Duncan Wright.
“Customers have been asking for solutions during what has been an incredibly challenging market, and this service is part of our response. Congestion and rate spikes will come and go, but the root issues remain. US importers are pushing for more creativity and controlled solutions to manage supply chain risk.
“We have seen incredibly strong demand for this service already, which tells us that fast and reliable niche services are here to stay.
“Our relationship with Swire Shipping is critical to making all this work. Their remarkable 150-year history and robust knowledge of ocean shipping and strong Asia legacy, combined with UWL’s culture of innovation, brings this dedicated service to life.”
Upon arrival in Seattle, customers needing warehousing or distribution space can make use of UWL’s sister company, World Distribution Services (WDS), and its new facility near Tacoma.
Rufus Frere-Smith, Regional Head, Americas, Swire Shipping, added: “In joining forces with UWL, an innovative and integrated logistics provider to American BCOs, we are confident that our ocean express solution will be compelling to importers and exporters who need a direct port-to-port, fast, and reliable service between Vietnam and the Pacific Northwest.
“Our partnership is built on a joint vision of responding to customers’ desire for reliable, safe, and innovative shipping solutions. We have deployed new state-of-the-art, fuel-efficient vessels that will sail at high speed, safely and sustainably.
“We are confident customers and beneficial cargo owners (BCOs) will find this direct, express service to be extremely effective in shipping their high value products and getting to market quickly.”
Back in October 2021, the Swire Group signed a partnership with the Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping.
Under the partnership, both parties have agreed to collaborate and commit to developing safe and sustainable decarbonisation solutions for the maritime industry.
