Corporate
Significant Events  
2000

Year 2000


December

OOCL announced that it would further enhance its Setouchi/Kyushu-Taiwan/Hong Kong Express (STX) service. OOCL began making direct calls at Setouchi/Kyushu in 1995, the first international liner service to do so. The ports in the Setouchi/Kyushu area are part of OOCL's Japan niche port network which covers 24 ports in Japan and is the most extensive network in the country. 

 

A major third party carrier entered into a licensing agreement with OOCL on 11th
November 2000 for the use of IRIS-2 (Integrated Regional Information System), a
fully integrated customer shipment management system, which includes booking, tracking, documentation and other related function.

On 22nd November, OOIL entered into a contract with Samsung Heavy Industries Co Ltd, for the construction of two 7,400 TEU post-Panamax container vessels at a total consideration of US$160 million.

October

OOIL announced that Mr Nicholas D Sims would succeed Mr Harry R Wilkinson as Chief Financial Officer on his retirement in October. Mr Sims left HSBC where he had served as Managing Director, Wayfoong Shipping Services, responsible for the HSBC Group's ship finance activities in the Asia Pacific region.

September

OOCL chartered in two 5,700 TEU German-owned vessels to be deployed on the sixth Asia-Europe loop under the Grand Alliance. Another partner of the Grand Alliance, P&O Nedlloyd, also deployed a chartered-in German vessel, "Megellan", and a self owned vessel, "P&O Nedlloyd Barentsz", in the same service.

August
Starting 18th August 2000, Xiamen is added to the service route of China-Europe Express. This service supports the growth of the import and export industries in Xiamen and Fujian. OOCL proudly announced the launch of CargoSmartTM, a powerful web-enabled solution platform designed to bring trade partners closer together. The development of CargoSmartTM further strengthens OOCL's dominant position as a customer-driven, IT leader in world shipping.

 
On 28th August 2000, OOCL celebrated the double christening of the OOCL San ​Francisco and OOCL Chicago in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, China. The two identical vessels, both with a tonnage of 66,670 and 5,700 TEU, are the largest vessels ever built by China Shipping Corporation.

July

OOCL enhances its service in India by adding a call at port Nhava Sheva on its China Middle East Service (CMS), starting from 18th July 2000. This supplements the Bombay Malaysia Express running between Mumbai and Singapore/Port Kelang. The CMS opens up further import opportunities from the Middle East as well as providing a fast and direct link for goods exported from India to Hong Kong and Mainland China.

June

​
OOCL was named "Best Shipping Line of the Year" by the Indonesia Forwarding Association. During April and May, OOCL in North America generated more than a third of its business through e-commerce transactions via its internet website. On a global basis, OOCL achieved nearly 10% of all revenues on business conducted through its web-site.

April
On 29th April 2000, OOCL celebrated the christening of OOCL Los Angeles and OOCL Malaysia, two post-Panamax container vessels ordered by the company under a long-term charter agreement with the German-based company, Nordcapital. A double christening ceremony was held at the Koje Shipyard of Samsung Heavy Industries in Pusan, Korea.

 
The Member Lines of the Grand Alliance and Americana Ships announced, subject to regulatory approval, an agreement for the Grand Alliance to enter the Transatlantic Trade with effect from 4th July 2000.

March​

Starting from 2nd April 2000, importers and exporters in Xiamen, China benefit from the addition of a direct call at the port of Xiamen to the China Korea Express Service (CKX) which provides fast and direct cargo delivery to and from North America with improved cost efficiency. The CKX Service is offered by Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) under the Grand Alliance service arrangement.
Asian Freight Industry Award presented by CargoNews Asia magazine has honored Long Beach Container Terminal the "Best Container Terminal Operator" - North America of the year

February

OOCL extends its Kawasaki/Taiwan Service (KTX) to cover Indonesia and Singapore, providing an unparalleled link between Japan and South East Asian countries. The new service is renamed Japan South East Asia Service (JSS) and commenced on 22nd February 2000 with a northbound sailing from Singapore. The first southbound sailing was on 23rd February 2000 from Tokyo.

January

OOCL offers a direct service to Poland. The Scan-Baltic Express (SBX) Service is extended to cover Gdansk in Poland. The first vessel calling was the OOCL Neva. The new service offers two calls per week at Gdansk and the new port rotation is Hamburg, Rotterdam, Thamesport, Bremerhaven, Hamburg, Gdansk, St Petersburg, Kotka, Mantyluoto, Gdansk and Hamburg.