HK-LA's Vanguard Logistics Services opens Johor Bahru branch

VANGUARD Logistics Services (VLS), of Los Angeles, has expanded its Asian presence with a new office in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, the company announced.

Vanguard Logistics Services and Vanguard are trade names of Vanguard Logistics Services (Hong Kong) Limited in Hong Kong. Vanguard Logistics Services and Vanguard are trade names of NACA Logistics (USA) Inc in the US.

The VLS Johor Bahru office augments Vanguard's regional trade lanes to and from high-traffic ports including Singapore and Hong Kong.

Located in the same metropolitan area as port Pasir Gudang, the Johor Bahru branch will initially be staffed by 14 people, 11 of whom are in place with a full staff expected to rise to between 20 and 25 by 2011.

VLS Johor Bahru will launch a number of routes to link the local forwarding community to Vanguard's global network. The first set of services include a three times per week direct sailing from Pasir Gudang/Johor Bahru to Singapore where freight can continue to more than 70 destinations the Singapore office will offer this year.

Twice weekly services into Hong Kong will allow freight to connect through to Hong Kong's many direct port pairs in Latin America. Additionally, Pasir Gudang/Johor Bahru offers weekly sailings to Jakarta, Bangkok, Tokyo and Shanghai.

Heading the new office is general manager John Ho, who brings to Vanguard more than 18 years experience in the consolidation business in the Singapore-Johor Bahru area.

"We are eager to meet the goals we've set for the fourth quarter of this year, which include establishing connectivity to Port Klang - another hub Vanguard is developing to complement Singapore," said Mr Ho. "We expect to have two services each week into Port Klang, and with these in place, Vanguard is in a position to offer the forwarding community a service that is on par with the best in Johor."

On the return trade lane into Pasir Gudang/Johor Bahru, Vanguard will offer twice weekly services - eventually adding a third - from Singapore.

"With this addition to Singapore's direct services, freight forwarders with imports from China, Europe, USA, Intra-Asia and India subcontinent origins can expect Vanguard's high standard of service for their Pasir Gudang/Johor Bahru bound cargo," said south Asia managing director Roy Chew.

VLS is a neutral NVOCC with its own offices and agency representatives in more than 100 countries. VLS offers global ocean shipping with more direct services than any other neutral provider. For further information visit www.vanguardlogistics.com or www.vls-global.com.

(Source: www.schednet.com)