THE Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has announced the Asia-East Coast service, also known as the EC3 service, offered by both the Grand Alliance and New World Alliance shipping lines, will start calling at the Port of Savannah in September.

"The Asia-East Coast will be an excellent addition to Port of Savannah''s strong line-up of Asian services," said Doug Marchand, Executive Director of the GPA.

The Grand Alliance groups together shipping lines, OOCL, NYK and Hapag-Lloyd, while the New World Alliance is comprised of APL, MOL and HMM.

The Asia-East Coast service is an express, weekly all-water service that calls at ports in China and the US via the Panama Canal.

The port rotation is: Shanghai, Chiwan, Shekou, Hong Kong, Manzanillo, Savannah, Norfolk and back to Shanghai.

"This additional Asia-US East Coast all-water service strengthens our commitment to meet the demand of our customers for all-water space from the growing cargo sourcing areas," said Stephen Ng, senior VP, Transpacific Trade, OOCL.

"APL is excited about the launching of our new EC3 all water service that will soon be calling at the Georgia Ports Authority," said George Hearn, vice-president managing director, US Southern Region, American President Lines.

"Savannah is a key receiving point for major retails shipments into the United States East Coast, and the EC3 will increase our ability to serve customers in the region."