Singapore-based shipping company APL, part of French shipping major CMA CGM, plans to add a second vessel to its Guam Saipan Express (GSX) service, upgrading this US flagged service from a fortnightly to a weekly coverage.

The first sailing of the weekly service will commence in late December 2016 from Yokohama, Japan, according to APL.

Currently supported by the 1,100 TEU container ship, the APL Guam and soon, the 1,600 TEU APL Saipan, the enhanced GSX service will double its frequency calls to the ports of Busan (South Korea), Yokohama (Japan), Guam and Saipan (US), the company said.

Currently, APL’s GSX service is facilitating cargo shipments from the US mainland via connecting service, Eagle Express service (EX1), in Busan and Yokohama.

“The more frequent GSX service will speed up essential cargo shipments from the U.S. mainland to the islands, especially Guam where 75% of her inbound freight originate from the US mainland,” John Selleck, APL General Manager, Guam/Micronesia, said.

Port rotation of the upgraded service will be as follows: Busan, Yokohama, Guam, Saipan, Busan.