Port of Oakland officials have said that they expect little difficulty when Japan’s newly merged shipping line arrives next month.
The three Japanese ocean carriers of MOL, NYK and K Line merged in 2017 to form a new company, Ocean Network Express, known as ONE.
They’ll combine operations April 1, 2018 with the first ship scheduled to arrive in Oakland a week later.
ONE would be the world’s sixth-largest container shipping line when it begins joint operations with 240 vessels.
The Japanese shipping lines currently visit Oakland with eight weekly vessel services, which the Port of Oakland expects to remain the same as they become ONE.
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Japanese ships will continue to tie up at Oakland’s largest marine terminals of TraPac or Oakland International Container Terminal.
Japan is one of Oakland’s leading trading partners and the port’s largest market for agricultural exports.
John Driscoll, Port of Oakland Maritime Director, said: “Everyone affected with this merger – the shipping lines, marine terminals, cargo owners, other Port stakeholders – has been gearing up for it since last year.
“There may be unforeseen challenges but we are confident they will be promptly addressed and no operational disruptions in Oakland are expected.”
