ONE launches EC5 service in Colombo with maiden call at SAGT
Ocean Network Express (ONE), the mega carrier born out of the merger between three Japanese giants of the shipping industry NYK, MOL and K Line launched the EC5 service in Colombo with a maiden call at South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT), Port of Colombo on April 23rd 2018.
To mark this occasion, a plaque exchange ceremony was held aboard MOL Paramount on April 23rd.
Operations General Manager Upul Jinadasa and Commercial and Marketing Manager Dhashma Karunaratne represented South Asia Gateway Terminals while Managing Director Vishvanath Daluwatte, General Manager Ayesh Perera and Product and Network General Manager Lohitha Hettiarachchi represented ONE Lanka.
While presenting the plaque to MOL Paramount Master Capt. Zoilo Sualog Lozanes, Upul Jinadasa commented: “SAGT’S operational capabilities have been frequently recognised on the global arena, and ONE’S choice to deploy the EC5 service is an endorsement of our performance capabilities.”
SAGT CEO Romesh David, commenting on this historic occasion said: “Team SAGT is delighted to provide a service of excellence to ONE’S inaugural call at SAGT and looks forward to building a partnership with ONE to serve the global maritime community with a best in class product, integrating the strengths of SAGT and ONE.”
ONE Lanka Managing Director Vishvanath Daluwatte confidently expressed that: “ONE Lanka looks forward to partnership with SAGT and Port of Colombo to exceed customer expectations in Sri Lanka and in regional markets.”
The three lines NYK, MOL and K Line first announced the merger in November 2016 and commenced single joint operations in April 2018, making them the sixth largest carrier by size with nearly seven percent market share. With a fleet of 230 containerships, the company seeks to meet customers’ needs by providing high-quality, competitive container shipping services with the consolidation and enhancement of the three companies’ global network and service structures.
The integration lets ONE to incorporate best practices from the three companies and to take advantage of their combined 1,440,000 TEU fleet size. Supported by a worldwide highlevel, globally-connected organisation, it offers 85 service loops and a comprehensive network linking more than 200 of the world’s major ports.
ONE is poised to gain the advantage of the strategic location of Port of Colombo and is expected to deploy another service at SAGT in addition to EC5.