THE CKYH alliance has become the latest to add a direct service between Vietnam and the US. The alliance, comprising Cosco Container Lines, K Line, Yang Ming Line, and Hanjin Shipping, is adding a direct call at Ho Chi Minh City on its All Water East Coast loop from next month. The service is operated by K Line and will be the first to link to the US east coast. Hanjin will also continue its own service announced last month sailing between Vietnam and the US west coast via Japan. The addition of Ho Chi Minh City to the CKYH alliance’s US east coast service, is the fourth direct call between the two countries to be launched in little more than a month. APL, Mitsui OSK Lines and Hanjin have all launched direct Vietnam – US services on the back of Vietnam’s first deepwater container terminals at Cai Mep – Thi Vai close to Ho Chi Minh City. At present two terminals are operational, one run by Saigon Newport, the other a PSA International joint venture. While the Hanjin service calls at Saigon Newport’s terminal the CKYH service will call at PSA International’s facility, as does APL. Shipping lines have been undeterred by the lack of landside infrastructure to link the terminals with major roads. At present most cargo is barged downriver from Ho Chi Minh City to the new terminals.