LEAM CHABANG: Regional Container Lines (RCL) has dropped the congestion-hit port of Manila as service running from China to Thailand via Vietnam, and will instead serve the Philippines capital with a direct shuttle from Laem Chabang.
RCL’s RBC4 service from 20 December will call Qingdao, Shanghai Cat Lai, Laem Chabang on a 21-day rotation utilising three 2,500 teu vessels.
“Purpose of the revamp is to provide a stable and reliable service in view of the recent port congestions,” RCL said. Manila has suffered severe port congestion for much of 2014 after a truck ban was instituted in the city centre of capital, leaving a very limited window for containers to removed or delivered from the port.
RCL will be launching a new service from Laem Chabang to Manila with two 2,500 teu vessels deployed.
“This revamp will help to restore RBC4 service integrity and at the same time, the new dedicate services will be able to cater to the growing needs of our customers in China, Vietnam, Thailand and Philippines,” said Charles Chu, evp of business for RCL.
