The Oregon-state Port of Portland announced Tuesday that Westwood Shipping Lines is preparing to kick off a new transpacific service between Portland and four ports in Japan.
The service, which will start July 11 and operate under the terms of an initial six-month agreement, will provide monthly service for more than 200 containers and the first Japan service for Portland customers since Tokyo-based "K" Line picked up anchor in early 2009.
The new Westwood service will carry non-reefer containerized agricultural products, as well as paper goods, between Portland and Shimizu, Tokyo, Yokohama and Nagoya in Japan.
If successful, Westwood hopes to add an additional ship to the rotation and expand the service to a bi-weekly schedule.
Westwood is owned by Weyerhauser Co.
