OOCL - 2000

OOCL has announced that it will further enhance its Setouchi/Kyushu-Taiwan/Hong Kong Express (STX) service. OOCL began making direct calls at Setouchi/Kyushu in 1995, and was the first international liner to do so. The ports in the Setouchi/Kyushu area are part of OOCL's Japan niche port network, which covers 24 ports in Japan and is the most extensive network in the country.
COSCO entered into a licensing agreement with OOCL on 11 November, 2000 for the use of IRIS-2 (integrated Regional Information System), a fully integrated customer shipment management system, which includes booking, tracking, documentation and other related function.
On 22 November, OOIL through two wholly owned subsidiaries, had each entered into a contract with Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., for the construction of an about 7,400 twenty-foot equivalent unit post-Panamax container vessel and the total consideration for the two vessels is about US$160 million.

September

OOIL announced that Mr. Nicholas Dr. Sims will succeed Mr. Harry R. Wilkinson as the Chief Financial Officer on his retirement in October. Dr. Sims left Hongkong and Shanghai Bank where he had served as Managing Director, Wayfoong Shipping services. He was responsible for the HSBC Group's ship finance for the Asia Pacific region for 27years prior joining OOIL.
OOCL has chartered in two 5,700-teu German-owned vessels. The vessels are speculated to be deployed on the sixth Asia-Europe loop under the Grand Alliance. Meanwhile, other partner of the Grand Alliance, P&O Nedlloyd has also put a chartered-in German vessels "Megellan" , and a self owned vessel "P&O Nedlloyd Barentsz" under the same route service.

August

Starting 18 August, 2000, Xiamen will be added to the service route of China-Europe Express. This service will further sustain the growth of import and export industry between Xiamen and Fujian.
OOCL proudly announces the September launch of CargoSmarttm , a powerful web-enabled solution platform designed to bring trade partners closer together. The development of CargoSmarttm further strengthens OOCL's dominant position as a customer-driven, IT leader in world shipping
Orient Overseas (International) Ltd. ("OOIL") Group announced its interim results on 18 August, 2000. A profit after taxation of US$22.9 million is recorded as compared with a loss of US$1.3 million for the same period in 1999.
On 28 August, 2000, OOCL celebrated the double christening of the OOCL San Francisco and OOCL Chicago in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, China. The two vessels, identical in features, both with a tonnage of 66,670 and 5700-teu are the largest vessels ever built by China Shipping Corporation.

July

OOCL enhances its service in India by adding a call at port Nhava Sheva on its China Middle East Service (CMS), starting from 18 July, 2000. This will supplement the Bombay Malaysia Express running between Mumbai and Singapore/Port Kelang. The CMS will open up further import opportunities from the Middle East as well as providing a fast and direct link for goods exported from India to Hong Kong and Mainland China.

June

During the months of April and May OOCL in North America generated more than a third of its business through e-commerce transactions via its internet website. On a global basis, the company achieved nearly 10% of all revenues, on business conducted through its web-site. The company target to conduct 20% or more of its business, globally, as e-commerce by the end of 2000.

May

On 29 April, 2000, OOCL celebrated the christening of OOCL Los Angeles and OOCL Malaysia, two post-Panamax container vessels ordered by the company under a long-term charter agreement with the German-based company, Nordcapital. A double christening ceremony was held at the Koje Shipyard of Samsung Heavy Industries in Pusan, Korea.

April

The Member Lines of the Grand Alliance and Americana Ships announced today, subject to regulatory approval, an agreement has been reached for the Grand Alliance to enter the Transatlantic Trade with effect from July 4, 2000.

March

Starting from 2 April 2000, importers and exporters in Xiamen, China will benefit from the addition of a direct call to the port of Xiamen to the China Korea Express Service (CKX) which will provide fast and direct cargo delivery to and from North America with improved cost efficiency. The CKX Service is offered by Orient Overseas Container Line(OOCL) under the Grand Alliance service arrangement.
Orient Overseas (International) Ltd ("OOIL") Group today announced a profit after taxation of US$62.3 milion for the year ended 31st December 1999 compared to US$0.2 million for the corresponding period l998.

February

OOCL will extend its Kawasaki/Taiwan Service (KTX) to cover Indonesia and Singapore, providing an unparalleled linkage between Japan and South East Asian countries. The new service will be renamed Japan South East Asia Serice (JSS) and will comence on 22 February 2000 with norhtbound sailing from Singapore. First southbound sailing will be on 23 Febraury 2000 from Tokyo.

January

OOCL offers direct service to Poland. Scan-Baltic Express (SBX) Service is extended to cover Gdansk in Poland. The first vessel calling will be the OOCL Neva. The new service offers two calls per week at Gdansk and the new port rotation is Hamburg, Rotterdam, Thamesport, Bremerhaven, Hamburg, Gdansk, St Petersburg, Kotka, Mantyluoto, Gdansk and Hamburg.