Wai Hai Lines will offer weekly container service with calls from the Port of Philadelphia to Asian markets. | Holt Logistics Corp/Facebook
Wai Hai Lines will offer weekly container service with calls from the Port of Philadelphia to Asian markets. | Holt Logistics Corp/Facebook
Gov. Tom Wolf (D-PA) visited the Port of Philadelphia, or PhilaPort, to welcome Wan Hai Lines, Ltd. as the state expands trade with Asia.
Wai Hai Lines plans to offer weekly container service with calls from Philadelphia to markets located in China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, according to a news release from the governor's office. Philadelphia will have direct, weekly service to Asia and its economies for the first time with this relationship.
"The port is an economic driver, not only in Philadelphia but across the commonwealth," Wolf said in the news release. "I've always known that the port is a huge asset for Pennsylvania as well as our local and national supply chains. That's why I've made it a top priority to support PhilaPort by making new investments to help the port redevelop, expand, and modernize. Today's maiden call marks a new chapter for PhilaPort and our commonwealth, which will bring a big boost to the port and our economy here in Pennsylvania."
Wolf invested more than $539 million in the infrastructure of PhilaPort plus warehousing and equipment since 2016, the news release noted. This included purchasing and implementing three new super post-Panamax cranes at the Packer Avenue Marine terminal. Two new state-of-the-art warehouses were built and the Southport Auto Terminal – the first new port terminal in 45 years – was developed. The port saw nearly 60% container growth and the creation of new jobs since Wolf implemented the infrastructure improvement plan.
Local officials and PhilaPort executives joined Wolf at PhilaPort, according to the news release. Those in attendance included Jim Kenney, mayor of Philadelphia; Randy Chen, vice chair of Wan Hai Lines; Rita Chen, deputy director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office; and Joseph Martella, U.S. Customs and Border Protection area port director for the Area Port of Philadelphia.
"Thank you to the port's leadership and staff for your hard work and dedication to making PhilaPort a leader in shipping, and to Wan Hai Lines for recognizing the potential that exists here in Philadelphia for new container service," Wolf said. "It's an honor to be here with everyone today to mark this important milestone and I look forward to your upcoming successes."
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