APL to customers: ‘You can rely on us in the Transpacific’
SINGAPORE, 19 AUGUST 2010: APL, the world’s fourth-largest container shipping line, is also one of the most reliable. That’s the conclusion from an on-time performance report issued to customers for the first time today.
The Singapore-based carrier said that in the five months from February to June, only two eastbound Transpacific vessels missed arrival windows in the U.S. And in both of those cases, heavy March fog in Asia kept them from sailing on time.
“On-time reliability is the measure customers use most often to rate ocean carriers, and based on this report, we’re measuring up well,” said APL President Eng Aik Meng. “We’ll continue to expand and refine our report to give them the clearest possible view of our performance.”
The Quarterly Service Reliability Report was released today in APL’s quarterly customer newsletter, “Global Horizons”. To view the online report, go to http://www.apladvantage.com/servicereliability
APL said the first edition of the reliability report summarized Transpacific eastbound arrivals. It added that the carrier’s other trades will be highlighted in subsequent issues.
The report measures 2010 on-time performance for each of APL’s four eastbound Transpacific services. Since February, all four have been 100% on time with the exception of the two winter weather delays.
APL considers vessels on-time when they berth within four hours of scheduled arrival. Most publicly available vessel reliability data uses a more forgiving same-day arrival benchmark. That makes it easier to be “on-time” but weakens the reliability measure for shippers.
APL measured on-time performance for all 99 of its 2010 eastbound Transpacific sailings through June. In addition to the two late March arrivals, four others missed their windows in January. Two of those were weather delays. Another was attributed to a New Year’s Day port holiday. The last was caused by vessel interference resulting in arrival seven hours after the scheduled window.
“Our service is not perfect, but it is improving,” said Ron Widdows, CEO of APL’s parent company, NOL Group, in a note to customers. “Through this quarterly reliability report, shippers will be able to measure the progress, and we welcome the scrutiny.”
About APL
APL is a global container shipping business offering more than 60 weekly services and more than 500 calls at more than 140 ports worldwide. It combines world-class intermodal operations with leading-edge IT and e-commerce. APL is a unit of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), global shipping, logistics and marine terminals company. APL Web site: www.apl.com