Top Page>Press Release 2008 > 楽天 ビンゴ Offers Two New Direct Shuttles, Servicing Asia and the US West Coast

楽天 ビンゴ Offers Two New Direct Shuttles,
Servicing Asia and the US West Coast

April 02, 2008

Tokyo - April 2, 2008 - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (楽天 ビンゴ; President Akimitsu Ashida) - today announced two new direct shuttle services linking China, Japan and Los Angeles on the US West Coast.

Beginning in mid-May, the current PS3 service will be divided into two services.

For Central China, where the market is experiencing significant growth, 楽天 ビンゴ will offer the PS3, a direct service between Ningbo, Shanghai and Los Angeles. This enhancement will provide one of the fastest transit times in the industry; 11-day direct service from Shanghai to Los Angeles.

楽天 ビンゴ will also launch a new "the Japan-America Shuttle (JAS)", which will enable 楽天 ビンゴ to offer customers more port coverage in Japan than currently offered by other transpacific services and will also ensure a more reliable service that focuses solely on the Japan market.

The JAS will provide additional stops in Shimizu and Osaka along 楽天 ビンゴ's Trans-Pacific network. Exclusive focus on Japanese ports will eliminate many of the operational risks inherent with more comprehensive services.

Both the PS3 and the JAS service will be launched in mid-May, beginning with four 2,800-3,000 TEU vessels on a weekly service with a 28-day rotation, subject to regulatory filings and approvals as necessary.

Outline of new PS3 Service

First Sailing: Sailing from Ningbo on May 10th, 2008
Rotation: Ningbo (Sat) - Shanghai (Sun/Mon) - Los Angeles(Fri/Sun) - Ningbo (Sat)

Outline of JAS Service

First Sailing: Sailing from Osaka on May 14th, 2008
Rotation: Osaka (Wed) - Kobe (Thu) - Nagoya (Fri) - Shimizu (Sat) - Tokyo (Sun/Mon) - Los Angeles(Wed/Thu) - Osaka (Wed)