TOWNSVILLE’S ROLE IN NEW EXPORT ROUTE
TOWNSVILLE has been included as a port of call for new shipping services into Vietnam, boosting export opportunities from North Queensland and improving domestic trade links on Australia’s east coast by sea.
ANL has announced Asia Australia Express 2 which will provide the only direct shipping service from Australia into and out of Ho Chi Minh.
General Manager, Asia ANZ Lines, Anthony Orgill, said it was a proud addition to services they believed would support customers with their own expansion needs.
With their other services, ANL was the “undisputed leader to and from South East Asia and Australia,” Mr Orgill said.
The service will call into Ho Chi Minh, Port Kelang, Singapore, Jakarta, Brisbane, Sydney and Townsville.
The Townsville call will be on the service’s northbound run, while calls into Sydney, Brisbane and Townsville provide domestic clients with additional coastal shipping options.
The first voyage from Sydney is scheduled for April 4, arriving at Townsville on April 7.
Port of Townsville manager, trade and business development, Maria James, said the service would provide a long sought-after weekly service from Port of Townsville to Asia, including Port Kelang, Malaysia, in 10 days, and into Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, in 13 days.
Ms James said Port Kelang was a key Asian hub, so a weekly service there provided access into other Asian ports with ANL’S major networks.
“A weekly service will give exporters surety, consistency and reliability,” Ms James said.
“This is particularly important for time-sensitive cargoes
“They only have to wait a week before the next vessel departs Townsville. This will lead to a broader and more diverse range of exports out of Townsville.
“It will also give domestic or interstate freight additional options.
“For example, large retailers, furniture and white good businesses based in Sydney will have a direct route to Townsville by sea with the product arriving in a few days, making it very competitive with other modes of transport.”