The Massachusetts Port Authority today announced that COSCO, K-Line,Yang Ming Line, and Hanjin Shipping Company will provide direct weekly outbound service to Asia from Boston beginning in January 2003.

The new COSCO, K Line, Yang Ming, and Hanjin Lines (CKYH) outbound service will feature direct weekly sailings from Boston to Qingdao, China and make subsequent calls at Yantian and Hong Kong, before returning to the United States. The sailing time from Boston to Qingdao will be 24 days. Yantian will be called in 27 days, and Hong Kong in 28 days.

"This is good news for the Port of Boston and for the dozens of Massachusetts businesses and their employees which will now have the opportunity to expand into a high-growth international market in China," said U.S. Congressman Stephen F. Lynch. "Massport, COSCO and all their partners in local business deserve high praise for all that they did to make this gateway a reality."

Since March, COSCO, K Line, Yang Ming Line, and Hanjin Shipping Company have provided inbound service to Boston from Asia. After leaving Boston, the ships sailed to Europe where exports to Asia were relayed via European ports. 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.

"The addition of a direct link to the Far East increases the vitality and sustainability of Boston's shipping and maritime related industries," said State Senator Jack Hart. "I welcome and encourage future development that supports Boston's role as an important East Coast industrial port."

"This new Far East service will, for the first time, provide New England exporters with a non-stop link from Boston to Qingdao, and fast service to Yantian and Hong Kong," said Mike Leone, Massport's Director of the Port of Boston. "With these changes, both direct inbound and outbound services from China will provide transit times which are almost as fast as landbridge."

Under the new schedule, the CKYH ships will call ports in Charleston, Norfolk, New York, and Boston and sail non-stop to Qingdao, Yantian and Hong Kong before returning to the United States.

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