Taiwan-based carrier Wan Hai Lines has doubled its weekly calls to Subic port, adding the port to its TPF service this May.
The TPF service calls Manila South first then Subic, before going to Taichung, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Shekou, and coming back to Manila South.
Wan Hai Lines sales manager Ted Arnold Bolla told PortCalls in a text message that the added service was due to the increase in the volume of shipments to Subic, especially that of inbound cargo. Wan Hai is utilizing its M/V Aja Ipsa and M/V Aruna Ipsa for the service.
Subic used to be served only by the line’s TPS service, which calls Manila North, then Manila South, Subic, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Hong Kong then goes back to Manila North.
Both services offer direct calls to and from Taiwan, Shekou, and Hong Kong.
Aside from Wan Hai, Japan-based carrier Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) Line also recently increased its Subic port calls. NYK now calls Subic twice a week using its Meteor North Bound and Meteor South Bound services.
Other carriers calling the Northern and Central Luzon hub include APL, Swire Shipping, and MCC Transport.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) recently said it targets handling 120,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) at Subic port this year. SBMA said containerized cargoes processed by the port increased 28% in the first quarter of 2015. Last year, Subic served 77,177 TEUs, which is more than 100% higher than the 37,469 TEUs it handled in 2013. – Roumina Pablo
