FPS Hong Kong – one of the founder members of the Famous Pacific Shipping Group forwarding and logistics network – is launching a new direct ocean groupage service to Honolulu, Hawaii that reduces traditional costs and transit times.

The new service will commence in late April, and initially offer fortnightly sailings. It will cut transit times currently offered by lines by up to five days. All general cargoes will be accepted on the service, but hazardous goods are excluded.

Thought to be the first groupage service on the trade offered by an NVOCC, its rates will show a substantial reduction on current liner groupage rates, and will include operational costs in Hong Kong and AMS (Automated Manifest System) charges for those shipments being transshipped via Hong Kong, but exclude DTHC (Destination Terminal Handling Charges). Freight collect shipments will be accepted.

Due to Hong Kong’s ideal location as a regional transhipment hub, FPS Hong Kong’s Director Benny Ling says: “We expect a strong uptake not just from Hong Kong, but also from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the rest of southeast Asia and the west Pacific.

“We believe FPS is the first NVOCC to offer this service in Asia. Once it is established, we hope to increase its frequency to weekly.”

As part of the service, FPS’s handling agent in Honolulu will provide arrival alerts. Concludes Ling: “We want to ensure that customers receive the very best possible service.”

FPS Hong Kong was launched in 1990, and provides ocean consolidation and FCL services to China, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Oceania and the Americas. It also operates airfreight services globally. The company has its own bases in Hong Kong, China, Asia and Australia.

In 1992 it was the founder member of Famous Pacific Shipping Group, whose members provide a comprehensive range of multi-modal forwarding and logistics services through a global network spanning 198 locations in 52 countries.