Korean shipping lines HMM, SM Line, and Pan Ocean have launched the first container service under K-Alliance connecting South Korea, China, Vietnam, and Thailand.
The itinerary includes Incheon-Qingdao-Shanghai-Ho Chi Minh City-Laem Chabang-Chiwan-Incheon. The route takes a ship three weeks to complete.
K-Alliance, comspiring HMM, SM Line, Pan Ocean, Sinokor Merchant Marine, and Heung-A, was established in 2020 by the Korean government.
The new service is named CVT, representing China, Vietnam, and Thailand. Vessels used for the service include Sky Rainbow of 1,809 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from HMM, Jan of 1,708 TEUs from SM Line, and Pos Hochiminh of 1,809 TEUs from Pan Ocean.
In late June, Singapore-based Pacific International Lines (PIL) launched a new weekly direct service connecting key ports in China, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. PIL also calls it CTV, with ports of call including Xingang, Dalian, Incheon, Qingdao, Shanghai, Laem Chabang, HCMC, and Xingang.