The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) today welcomed the inaugural outbound service from Boston to Asia of China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) and its partners, K- Line, Yang Ming and Hanjin Shipping Lines. COSCO and its partners (CKYH), begins the much-anticipated outbound service from Boston just one year after they initiated an inbound call from China to Boston. This marks the first time in more than 20 years that a container ship will sail directly from Boston to China.
CKYH 's new outbound call comes on the heels of its one year anniversary of serving Boston with an inbound call. In March 2002, CKYH began calling Boston directly from the Far East, providing importers with fast transit times and lower costs in obtaining goods from the Far East.
"Today we make history, reconnecting a historic route that will bring increased trade and more jobs to New England," said Mike Leone, Massport's port director. "This news is particularly welcome to exporters who stand to gain considerable savings in time and cost of ocean transportation."
Before today, ships leaving Boston on the CKYH service first sailed to Europe where exports to Asia were relayed via European ports.
The new outbound service will provide direct weekly sailings from Boston to Quindao, China in just 24 days. Subsequent calls will be made at the ports of Yantian and Hong Kong in 27 and 28 days respectively before returning to the United States.
Asia represents the largest market for New England based businesses and accounts for approximately 33% of this region's exports and 57% of this region's imports.
CKYH has already had a great impact on Boston area businesses and accounts for much of the increase in cargo volumes passing through the port in 2002. Massport reported a 9.7% increase in the total amount of containers handled in 2002 as compared to 2001 and a dramatic increase of 30% in export containers alone over this same period.
The Port of Boston is served with weekly ocean carrier service from Mediterranean Shipping Company as well as feeder service from SPM in Halifax and barge service from Columbia Coastal Transport, New York.