QINGDAO's SITC Maritime (Group) Co. has commenced a container service connecting China, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, called the VTI.

CK Line is launching a new intra-Asia container shipping service, the "VTS", which links Vietnam to major ports in southeast Asia, in order to strengthen its services.

CARRIER members of the Westbound Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement (WTSA) will raise the rates of US$160 per TEU and $200 per FEU for all dry cargo on all trade lanes with effect from October 1, according to a WTSA release.

HONG KONG's flag carrier OOCL recently announced it will suspend a sailing from its Central China Express (CCX) service run by vessel NYK Artemis for voyage NAR 071E with an estimated time of departure from Qingdao on October 10 as an seasonal adjustment for the National Day Holidays in China.

DUAL-headquartered in Dubai and Hong Kong, Emirates Shipping Line (ESL) is to offer a third Far East-Middle East service through slot buying on the FE-ME string of the Hanjin's Pacific South & Gulf, which is a string of the Middle East-Asia-US West Coast joint service run by Hanjin together with the Grand Alliance members, Hapag-Lloyd, NYK and OOCL.

Doosan Heavy Industries Vietnam’s Material Handling Systems Business Unit has been awarded a contract to supply a Rubber Tired Gantry Crane or RTGC to Da Nang Port. The official contract signing ceremony took place in Da Nang on August 28th.

OOCL has joined a growing group of liner carriers seeking to raise rates on the westbound Asia-Europe trade.

TAIWAN's Wan Hai Lines (WHL) has come to a new arrangement with Cosco, CCNI, Hamburg Sud, China Shipping, Hanjin and Hyundai regarding the operation of their Asia-Mexico-west coast of South America loops.

Mediterranean Shipping Co. has announced September rate increases for cargo moving from the U.S. Gulf and West coasts to several destinations.

CHINA's flag carrier, Cosco, the world's fourth largest carrier, has announced a series of general rate increases for services from Asia to Europe, South America, South Africa and the US in September.