Strengthening Trans-Pacific carrier services APL

sTrengTHening TrAns-pAcific cArrier services

APL is one of the world’s leading ocean carriers and possibly the most environmentally aware and active. Philip Yorke reports on a company that continues to see strong growth whilst leading the field in the reduction of fleet carbon emissions at sea.

APL is a key part of the CMA CGM Group founded in 1978 by the late Jacques R. Saade. It offers more than 120 weekly services and call-ports in over 70 countries. Supporting APL’s huge container shipping business is the group’s Shared Service Centre (SSC) which provides support in critical shipping processes of customer service, operations, finance and accounting. SSC operates through four major global hubs including Heredia, Costa Rica, Tallinn, Estonia, Chongqing, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

With over 170 years of combined experience APL has the knowledge and expertise to help its customers grow their businesses and to negotiate in an increasingly complex and ever-changing marketplace – whether this means venturing into new territories or growing already developed markets. New central China service

Earlier this year APL announced the introduction of its new Central China Loop-3 service and the enhancement of its South China Loop-3 service, both serving the Asia-North America trade lane.

Adding to its portfolio of Trans-Pacific services, the new CC3 service will be providing direct connectivity from the Chinese ports of Lianyungang, Ningbo and Shanghai to the US West Coast Ports of Long Beach and Seattle.

Unique to this offering is that this service will be the only one in the market that provides a direct Lianyungang to Long Beach and Seattle connection designed to diversify and expand APL’s coverage across China. The weekly service promises a competitive transit time of 13 days from Ningbo to Long Beach.

The company’s weekly South China Loop-3 service will also be calling at the additional ports of Haiphong and Oakland as part of its service rotation. When the refined SC3 service commenced it was the first and only service that directly connected Haiphong in Northern Vietnam to the US West Coast ports of Long Beach and Oakland.

Whilst the enhanced SC3 service offers extended market coverage across Vietnam to the West Coast, the company’s Trans-Pacific offering remains synonymous with its best-in-class 13-day transit time from Yantian to Long Beach.

Focus on sustainable shipping

Following the Group’s recent announcement on reinforcing its environmental objectives, APL announced a 47.4 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per container transported per kilometre in 2018, compared to its base level in 2009. APL global head for Safety, Security and the Environment, Dennis Yee said, “As part of the CMA CGM Group, APL is firmly committed towards the protection of the environment and the reduction of its own carbon footprint. Building upon the successful results achieved in this area, we are determined to persevere in our pursuit for excellence in sustainable shipping.

Behind APL’s responsible shipping strategy is a holistic approach that drives operational efficiencies, and fleet-voyage optimisation, as well as the deployment of a fuel-efficient fleet of vessels. Complementing a rigorous maintenance regime, the carrier also identifies solutions that improve its vessel fleet performance.

Gearing up for the 2020 Global Sulphur Cap, APL will be using low-sulphur compliant fuel-oil across its fleet of vessels and employing advanced air quality systems on some vessels that clean the emissions before they are released into the atmosphere. In addition, it will be deploying Liquefied Natural Gas-fuelled vessels according to the latest plans of the group.

APL will make further inroads in environmental protection and ocean conservation as the group takes delivery of nine, new 22,000 TEU, LNG-powered ships in 2020. In order to reduce air pollutants still further, APL vessels that are fitted with cold ironing capabilities use shore power whist at berth in US West Coast ports, as well as in Yantian following a successful pilot with the port authorities.

Fastest transit time to the Caribbean

In July this year, APL announced the launch of its new weekly America, Central Caribbean service that connects the US East Coast to the Dominican Republic with the world’s fastest shipping transit time. The all new service is characterised by its three-day and five-day transit time from the port of Miami to the Rio Haina and Caucedo ports in the Dominican Republic respectively.

The new service will also make a weekly port stop at Kingston in Jamaica to relay shipments that arrive aboard APL’s ACE service to the Latin America services operating from there. APL’s latest Latin America service will commence sailing from the port of Miami on 23rd August this year.

maritime award winner

On 1st July this year APL clinched the coveted “Fuel-efficiency Award” at the Seatrade Maritime Awards Asia 2019. This accolade celebrates APL’s achievements in optimising the fuel efficiency of its vessel fleet.

APL’s Chief Executive Officer, Lars Kastrup said, “We are proud to be the winner of this category that signifies operational excellence.

This mark of distinction is an affirmation of our fleet operation management that has continually delivered fuel efficiency and lowered our global carbon footprint in line with the Group’s overall efforts”.

In order to drive its operational efficiencies, APL practices slowsteaming, optimises fleet and voyage, and deploys a fuel-efficient fleet of vessels. APL also adopts a rigorous maintenance regime as it identifies solutions to continually improve vessel fleet performance.

For further details of APL’s latest fuel-efficient fleet of vessels and international routes visit: www.apl.com