APL’s new Eagle Express X service has made its inaugural call at the Port of Los Angeles.

The new weekly connection between China and the US West Coast provides faster, expedited transit for cargo owners looking for a more on-time, speed-to-market delivery option. The first sailing was operated by the APL Japan and departed from Shanghai on August 4.

“We’re excited to celebrate the first arrival of APL’s new Eagle Express X service to the Port of Los Angeles,” said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. “Given our port’s commitment to customer service, superior infrastructure and a labour force that can adeptly handle a speed-to-market premium service, the Eagle Express X is yet another way that we are responding to the evolving needs of our cargo customers.”

The EXX service features time-guaranteed transit from China to Los Angeles – 11 days from Shanghai and 12 days from Ningbo, with 100% guaranteed space and equipment. When inbound containers are discharged at the Eagle Marine Service terminal at the Port of Los Angeles, they are immediately loaded onto specially reserved smart chassis and directly parked in a dedicated EXX yard within the terminal for same-day availability. Exclusive EXX gates have been established and no appointments are necessary.

“APL is always looking for ways to provide differentiated services for our customers,” said Ed Aldridge, president of North America at APL. “The Eagle Express X is our new initiative which provides our valuable customers with a cost-efficient air freight alternative for its urgent cargo and a first-class service for its ocean shipments from origin to destination. The customer support for this new expedited service has been both exceptional and exciting.”

The EXX service will the soon benefit from the new Port Optimizer, a cloud-based portal which the port developed in partnership with GE Transportation. The platform digitizes maritime shipping data for cargo owners and supply chain stakeholders through secure access channels, improving goods movement, predictability and planning, according to the Port of Los Angeles.