The first direct container service from Vietnam to the US east coast began on Aug. 18 with the maiden voyage of K-Line Shipping’s Verrazano Bridge from HCM City.

The 54,591DWT vessel has a capacity of 4,041 TEUs (20-foot unit).

Hiroshi Kono, general director of K-line Vietnam, said he was “honoured” to work with the CKYH Alliance – in which K-Line is a partner – to launch the service to the eastern and western regions of the US .

He said it would enhance the development of Vietnam’s maritime transport market.

CKYH, an alliance also involving COSCON, China’s Yang Ming Line and Korea’s Hanjin Shipping, have weekly services from the country to several destinations including Hong Kong, Halifax and Singapore. SP-PSA International Port is a joint venture between Sai Gon Port and Vinalines of Vietnam and PSA Vietnam Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore’s PSA International Pte Ltd./.