Horizon: Shanghai to K.C. in 15 days
Horizon Lines has started offering a 15-day transit schedule for containerized cargo shipped from Shanghai to Kansas City on its new transpacific ocean service from China.
The U.S. Jones Act carrier started its Five-Star Express (FSX) service between China and the United States in December, and decided on Kansas City as a key hub for its express ocean-rail intermodal package.
| Taylor |
“Our goal is to offer the fastest weekly deliveries by using scheduled intermodal rail service from Los Angeles,” said Brian Taylor, senior vice president, chief commercial officer, for Horizon Lines. 'Our customers are telling us they want fast and reliable service alternatives (to reduced inland service locations and slowed service speeds) not only port-to-port, but inland to final destinations as well. U.S. retailers are maintaining low inventory levels and our Five-Star Express service provides a fast and reliable transit schedule to deliver goods to their shelves in a timely manner.”
Horizon's first FSX sailing departed Ningbo Dec. 14 and Shanghai Dec. 15, with cargo arriving in Kansas City Dec. 30, and available for pick-up at 4:32 a.m. that day.
“Having the Five-Star Express transpacific ocean service bringing imports into the greater K.C. market in 15 days is an incredible advantage for companies in our region,” said Chris Gutierrez, president of Kansas City SmartPort Inc., a non-profit economic development organization. “This will allow our companies to meet delivery times more efficiently.”
Horizon Lines said it is also leveraging its well-established domestic network for shipments from inland areas to its traditional destination markets of Hawaii and Guam to new export markets in Ningbo and Shanghai.