Xiamen International Container Terminals Limited (XICT) announced that the Grand Alliance's MV "P&O Nedlloyd Sydney" made its inaugural call at XICT on April 2, 2000. This marks the Grand Alliance's first direct service from Xiamen to the US West Coast.

The member lines of the Grand Alliance - P&O Nedlloyd, OOCL, NYK and Hapag-Lloyd - deploy a fleet of five 2,890 TEU container vessels on this weekly China Korea Express (CKX) service. Each vessel is installed with 400 reefer sockets. Port rotation is Xiamen (XICT), Shanghai, Qingdao, Pusan, Los Angeles, Seattle, Pusan and Xiamen (XICT).

"We are delighted to welcome the Grand Alliance's new service to XICT. It indicates the increasing confidence of international shipping companies in our services and facilities. Equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge technology in operation systems, XICT is committed to providing the Grand Alliance with top-notch terminal services. By adding this new service, a total of five line-haul services to the United States and Europe have been provided at XICT," said Mr. Patrick Lam, General Manager of XICT.

"Launching this new service reflects an increasing volume of cargo exporting from Xiamen to the United States. XICT will continue to upgrade its service level and facilities to provide shippers in the region with the most efficient and cost-effective shipping service to the US West Coast," added Mr. Alfred Leung, General Manager of Hutchison Delta Ports Limited (HDP).

Notes to Editors :

XICT is a joint venture company between Hutchison Delta Ports Limited (HDP) and Xiamen Haicang Port Company Limited. Currently, there are eight container liner services calling at XICT every week with destinations covering the United States, Europe, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

HDP currently operates three coastal and three river ports in southern China, and is a member of the Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) Group - the port division of the Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Limited.