Sinotrans Container Lines has started weekly calls to Subic port through its China Philippines Feeder (CPF) service.
Sinotrans, in an agreement with Taiwan-based Wan Hai Lines, is deploying one vessel for the weekly service, said port operator Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC) in an advisory.
The CPF service connects the Chinese ports of Ningbo and Shanghai with the ports of Manila and Subic in the Philippines.
The new service was marked by the maiden call of MV Dong Fang at the New Container Terminal 1 in Subic on January 20.
SBITC said it continuously seeks more partnerships that will cater to the needs of the North and Central Luzon markets.
Aside from Sinotrans and Wan Hai, other regular callers at Subic are APL, Maersk Line, NYK Line, MCC Transport, Samudera Shipping Line, SITC, and Swire Shipping.
Earlier, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, which has jurisdiction over Subic port, said the Taiwan Maritime and Port Bureau has expressed interest in increasing container transshipment traffic between Taiwan and Subic.
READ: Taiwan seeks tie-up with Subic to boost transhipment volumes
Subic port has an annual capacity of 600,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). In 2015, Subic port handled 60% more containerized cargoes, or an additional 123,510 TEUs, from 77,177 TEUs in 2014. Ship calls also increased 29% as shipping lines calling the port increased to seven in 2015 from just four in 2014.
