Port of Oakland All Set for ONE
Californian Port of Oakland doesn’t expect any major interruptions in its operation when Japan’s newly merged shipping line Ocean Network Express (ONE) arrives at the port’s terminals next month, the port officials said yesterday.
The Japanese shipping lines currently visit Oakland with eight weekly vessel services and its maiden call is set for the second week of April, MANA correspondent reported.
That number is not expected to change as they become ONE, the port officials added.
Japanese ships will continue to tie up at Oakland’s largest marine terminals TraPac or Oakland International Container Terminal.
“Everyone affected with this merger – the shipping lines, marine terminals, cargo owners, other port stakeholders – has been gearing up for it since last year,” Port of Oakland Maritime Director, John Driscoll, said.
“There may be unforeseen challenges but we are confident they will be promptly addressed and no operational disruptions in Oakland are expected.”
Japan is the port’s largest market for agricultural exports.
The Japanese trio Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) formed the new company in July 2017.
The companies secured all necessary merger approvals from local competition authorities to start business operations on April 1, 2018 and started taking bookings last month.
ONE will be the world’s sixth-largest container shipping line when it begins joint operations with 240 vessels.