CLEVELAND, Ohio – UWL, a top 15 American-owned NVOCC and leading provider of global 3PL services, has contracted with Swire Shipping to launch a brand-new, exclusive express service between Ho Chi Minh City and the port of Seattle, providing speed and predictability for customers looking for guaranteed space and quick ocean transit. Swire Shipping, a multi-purpose liner service that helps facilitate trade in more than 90 countries and across 400 ports, is the exclusive carrier for the service. This revolutionary agreement is the first dedicated ocean service by an NVOCC in the trade.
UWL President Duncan Wright noted: “We are thrilled to add this service to our portfolio of offerings. Customers have been asking for solutions during what has been an incredibly challenging market, and this service is part of our response. Congestion and rate spikes will come and go, but the root issues remain. US importers are pushing for more creativity and controlled solutions to manage supply chain risk."
"We have seen incredibly strong demand for this service already, which tells us that fast and reliable niche services are here to stay. Our relationship with Swire Shipping is critical to making all this work. Their remarkable 150-year history and robust knowledge of ocean shipping and strong Asia legacy, combined with UWL’s culture of innovation, brings this dedicated service to life," Wright added.
“In joining forces with UWL, an innovative and integrated logistics provider to American BCOs, we are confident that our ocean express solution will be compelling to importers and exporters who need a direct port-to-port, fast, and reliable service between Vietnam and the Pacific Northwest,” said Rufus Frere-Smith, Regional Head, Americas, Swire Shipping.
“Our partnership is built on a joint vision of responding to customers’ desire for reliable, safe, and innovative shipping solutions. We have deployed new state-of-the-art, fuel efficient vessels that will sail at high speed, safely and sustainably. We are confident customers and BCOs will find this direct, express service to be extremely effective in shipping their high value products and getting to market quickly.”
Customers can look forward to priority berthing at both origin and destination, and a dedicated equipment pool for suppliers in Ho Chi Minh City. This includes 6,000 brand-new ocean containers, with 40-foot-high cube and 20-foot containers already in the rotation. Predictability is assured, as schedules are published six months in advance, with two sailings per month.
Upon arrival in Seattle, those needing warehousing or distribution space can take advantage of UWL’s sister company, World Distribution Services (WDS), and their brand-new 300,000 sq. ft. facility near Tacoma, Washington, just a short drive away from the Port of Seattle.
Both UWL and World Distribution Services fall under the umbrella of World Group, a family of transportation and logistics companies. World Group Chairman Fred Hunger shared his thoughts on the new service: “For more than 60 years, our organization has worked to innovate and get ahead of market trends, while keeping the customers in mind. This contract with Swire Shipping is the latest example of our people understanding where the market is going, anticipating customer needs, and developing creative solutions. We feel that this is only the beginning and there is more to come!”
To learn more about the Vietnam service and book a consultation with our experts, visit our website. Interested in learning about UWL’s other services? Please get in touch.
UWL is a top 15 American-owned NVOCC and leading provider of global 3PL services. They take pride in delivering seamless supply chain solutions backed by a team of creative problem-solvers. Specializing in ocean transportation, air freight, road and rail, warehousing and distribution, project cargo, and customs house brokerage, their proof is in owned assets: a national network of distribution centers, dependable trucking capacity, and WorldScope, a user-friendly data management platform that delivers transparency and visibility customers can count on. Wherever your freight needs to go, they can help get it there. To find out more, visit their website at www.shipuwl.com.
Swire Shipping is a privately owned organization that was founded in 1872 and now comprises over 600 employees in 20 countries and owns and deploys over 30 vessels in the intra-Asia, Australasia, and Polynesia trades. It is part of the Swire Group which is a Hong Kong- and London-based British conglomerate. Many of its core businesses can be found within the Asia Pacific region, where traditionally Swire’s operations have centered on Hong Kong and mainland China. Its subsidiaries include Cathay Pacific Airlines, Swire Properties, China Navigation Company, Swire Hotels and Swire Resources.
World Group was founded over 60 years ago as a pioneer in vessel agency services on the Great Lakes. Today, they are home to a portfolio of globally trusted brands that deliver customers end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions, including ContainerPort Group, UWL, World Distribution Services, and World Shipping, Inc. With industry-leading products in ocean drayage and domestic trucking, freight forwarding and air freight, customs house brokerage, vessel husbandry, and warehousing and distribution, customers around the globe use their services to simplify supply chains and reliably move freight.
Offering career opportunities across the country for innovators in the transportation industry, their award-winning culture is anchored in people who live and breathe the company’s core values daily. Learn how to join the World Group family by visiting their careers page.