Hapag-Lloyd, a global leader in container shipping, has launched a new service with flexible port coverage in Southeast Asia, connecting Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
The new route, named Vietnam Indonesia Straits (VIS) Service by Hapag-Lloyd, will start this April to replace its VNF and SPL services by combining the benefits with direct coverage between Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s southern economic hub, and Malaysia’s Port Kelang.
The new service will have a rotation of Cat Lai (HCMC)-Singapore-Port Kelang (Malaysia)-Belawan (Indonesia)-Penang (Malaysia)-Port Kelang-Singapore-Cat Lai. As planned, the new service’s Cat Lai departure is on April 6 with the Cat Lai Express vessel.
Cat Lai is Vietnam’s largest container port, accounting for approximately 85% of southern port container freight and 50% of the country's total.
HCMC is proposing to build a $5.9 billion international container port in the coastal district of Can Gio, which would have a capacity three times higher than Cat Lai Port.