Two Sino Korean container ship and car ferry operators, Yellow Sea Liners and Korea-China Car Ferry Shipping Companies, have signed a contract to launch a series of direct shipping links between South Korea and China. The new services will be among the first ever launched between the two countries, and were expected to start in April.
Two 500 teu container ships will operate two services between Inchon and Qingdao and Inchon and Shanghai. Further container routes will be introduced between Inchon and Dalian, and Tianjin, and all will be effective by August, according to Inchon. A 50-50 joint venture company will be set up to operate both the container and car ferry services.