OOCL - 2003

Grand Alliance announced a temporary suspension of their FEX Transpacific service, with effect from the last week in January 2004.
OOCL signed for two additional 8,063 TEUs SX Class vessels for delivery in 2007. This brings the total number of SX Class vessels ordered with Samsung to twelve.
OOCL won the Best Main Line Operator at the fifth Lloyd's List Maritime Asia Award ceremony, held in Shanghai on 4 December. Philip Chow, COO, OOCLL accepted the award on behalf of the company from Sandra Lee, Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labor, Hong Kong SAR.

November

Mr. CC Tung was bestowed the Honorary Port Pilot Award, the highest honour presented by the Port of Long Beach to individuals for ther outstanding leadership and achievements in international trade.

August

OOIL Group announced 2003 Interim Results on 20 August. A profit before taxation of US$88.7 million was recorded as compared with US$4.1 million for the same period last year. After taxatiion and minority interests, the Group reported a profit of US$79.5 million, an increase of US$78.5 million from the US$1.0 million earned during the first half of 2002.
OOCL (India) Private Limited (OIPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of OOCL will be established as the general agent for OOCL in India with effect from 5 August, 2003. OIPL will have its India head office in Mumbai, the branch offices in New Delhi and Chennai. This new agent will take over all the shipping and customer service functions from Volkart Fleming Shipping and Service Limited.

July

OOCL Long Beach, the second of the ten 8,063 TEU SX Class vessel delivered to OOCL from Samsung Heavy Industries, arrived at Long Beach Container Terminal, USA, on 25 July on its maiden port call at the Port of Long Beach. It has become the largest container vessel ever berthed at the Port of Long Beach. The OOCL Long Beach, will be deployed in OOCL's Asia/Europe Service.

June

Effective 1st July, Mr. Philip Chow will be appointed the Chief Operating Officer of OOCLL, Mr. Peter Leng, President of North America and Director of OOCLL. Mr. Stephen Ng, Mr. Michael Kwok and Mr S.C. Tai will be appointed Senior Vice President of Transpacific Territory, Director of Intra-Asia Territory and Acting General Manager of Fleet Management respectively, with effect from 1 August, 2003.
OOCL celebrated the European maiden calls of OOCL Shenzhen. OOCL Shenzhen, is a SX class vessel, with the largest declared capacity of the world at 8,063 TEU. This has led to OOCL Shenzhen being awarded the Guiness World Record as the largest containership in the world.
OOCL Sydney, a brand new container vessel of 2,762 TEU, on her maiden voyage, arrived today (5 June) in Sydney. This new vessel wil join the new Australia China Express (ACE) service, jointly operated by OOCL and China Shipping, linking major ports in Australia the growing market in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

May

OOCL Montreal was delivered to OOCL from Daewoo Shipbuilding and Engineering Co on 19 May, 2003. OOCL is a 4,402 TEU Ice-Strengthened vessel to be phased in Gateway Express (GEX) loop 1 Service on 30th June, 2003, with 3 sailing per week plying between Port of Montreal and major European ports via the St. Lawrence River Gateway. OOCL Montreal will become the largest ice-class container vessel ever to sail into the St. Lawrence River.
OOCL Shenzhen, sailed into Modern Terminals at Kwai Chung, Hong Kong, China, on 15th May, 2003, on her maiden voyage to Europe.
OOCL Shenzhen, the largest vessel of OOCL container fleet at 8,063 TEU, sailed into Yantian Terminal, Shenzhen today on her maiden voyage to Europe.
A completely new service, the "Australia China Express" (ACE) service will be inaugurated by China Shipping and OOCL starting 2nd week of May 2003 replacing COZ service in serving customers' transportation and logistics needs between China and Australia.

April

OOCL celebrated the christening of OOCL Shenzhen at Koji Island, Korea on 30th April, 2003. OOCL Shenzhen is a a "SX" class vessel, with the largest declared capacity of the world at 8,063 TEU. It is also the largest vessel ever built by Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
OOCL has celebrated the 5th Anniversary of its Scan Baltic Express (SBX) service. The service has grown steadily to meet customer demand and is now regarded as the leader in service quality in the region.
OOCL has taken every precautionary measure against the risk of SARS infection at offices and aboard their vessels. OOCL has also formulated and implemented contingency plans to ensure that their services will not be interrupted in case of SARS infection at their offices or vessels.
Orient Overseas Container Line is to launch a new China / Straits Service (CSS) to enhance its service network for China, with the first sailing from Port Kelang on April 10, 2003.

March

OOIL announced results for 2002 on 14th March. A profit after taxation and minority interests of US51.7 million for the year ended 31st December 2002 was recorded, a 16% decrease against that recorded for the corresponding period in 2001. The Directors was recommending a final dividend of US2.5 cents (HK19.5 cents). The recommended final dividend of US2.5 cents (19.5 cents) maintained the dividend at the same level as was paid for the year of 2001 as a whole.
Hapag-Lloyd, OOCL and P&O Nedlloyd announced the start of a new dedicated Intra-Asia service called the JTV (Japan-Thailand-Vietnam). It was to be launched on 15th March, 2003.

February

"OOCL Xiamen" , one of the 4 chartered-in vessels of OOCL 2003, arrived Hong Kong, China on 19th February, 2003 from Port of Ningbo. The vessel would be first deployed in China Middle East Service (CMS) and would phase in the Kanto Taiwan South China Express (KTX) in early April.
CC Tung officially opened OOCL House, Levington in UK on 19th February, 2003.