The Taiwan-based international shipping company, Wan Hai Lines, announced that The Northwest Seaport Alliance's (NWSA) Seattle Harbor will be the first port of call for its new, independent service as it moves to address growing demand.

Beginning mid-March, its AA5 service will call Kaohsiung, Yantian, Shanghai, Ningbo, Seattle and Oakland before returning to Kaohsiung.

Wan Hai said in a statement that its service will call Terminal 18 in Seattle.

"Wan Hai recently revamped its services to provide comprehensive coverage that meets its growing customer demand in the Pacific Northwest," it said.

"This service provides direct connections from Asia to the Pacific Northwest, which will reduce import transit times and increase loading options," it added.

The NWSA is well-positioned to help minimize berth congestion and cargo delays along the west coast. Wan Hai is one of many ocean carriers selecting the NWSA gateway as a solution for reducing congestion issues.

"The Northwest Seaport Alliance has ample terminal capacity, provides efficient operations and low dwell times that ensure cargo moves quickly onto its ultimate destination. The gateway offers supply chain flexibility and low-cost transload options to our customers," said John Wolfe, CEO of The Northwest Seaport Alliance.

The NWSA gateway, which includes the marine cargo operations of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, offers critical advantages to the west coast supply chain.

Wan Hai launches other services 

In a separate statement, the Taiwan-based shipper said in order to provide a "more comprehensive service coverage" to United States West Coast (USWC), Wan Hai Lines will launch four weekly services from Asia to USWC aside from the AA5.

These services are revamped from Wan Hai’s existing service structure "to meet strong customer requirements," it added.

The Port rotation of the services are:
AA1 : Shanghai－Ningbo－Los Angeles－Shanghai
AA2 : Kaohsiung－Yantian－Long Beach－Yantian－Kaohsiung
AA3 : Haiphong－Cai Mep－Hong Kong－Yantian－Xiamen－Long Beach－Shekou－Haiphong

"The effective voyages will be around mid-March, 2021. With direct links from Asia main ports to PSW/PNW, customers will be benefited from shortened transit time and more loading options," Wan Hai said.