UWL announced a new vessel-operator partnership with United Arab Emirates-based Emirates Shipping Line (ESL) on its flagship Sun Chief Express service.

This direct ocean service from Ho Chi Minh City to Seattle—recognized by the Northwest Seaport Alliance as the most reliable carrier on the TPEB Trade —continues to deliver consistent, customer-focused performance. The transition to ESL as vessel operator marks a strategic step forward, enabling the service to scale capacity while maintaining industry-leading speed and schedule integrity.

"Swire played a critical role in helping us build the integrity and reputation of the Sun Chief service, and we’re deeply grateful for that foundation,” says Duncan Wright, President of UWL and Co-CEO of World Group. “As we searched for partners to help us enhance and grow our service offering, it was essential that we continued to align with a partner who shares our commitment to reliability, transparency, and customer care. We’re confident this new collaboration will uphold everything Sun Chief stands for and unlock the next phase of growth for our customers.”

For ESL, the partnership comes at a pivotal moment, as the carrier deepens its presence in North America and expands into new strategic markets. Joining the Sun Chief Express service offers mutual benefit to the ambitions of both firms, while strengthening the operational foundation of the lane.

"This partnership represents a significant step forward for Sun Chief and for our customers,” said Chris Krawczyk, SVP of Sun Chief at UWL. “Teaming up with ESL puts us in a position to take the Sun Chief Express to the next level. Their shared commitment to performance, coupled with their vessel capacity, and strategic footprint, allows us to enhance consistency, scale capacity, and continue delivering the premium experience that sets Sun Chief apart in the Transpacific trade.”

Same Core Service Highlights, Even More Potential

The new partnership between the two organizations will feature optimized vessel deployment with increased capacity per sailing and the possibility to increase sailing frequency to weekly.

  • Direct routing: Ho Chi Minh City → Seattle
  • Predictable transit times as little as 19 days
  • Reliable fortnightly sailings, targeting weekly
  • UWL-led end-to-end customer service, operational coordination, and customer visibility
  • ESL-operated vessels, supporting contracted reliability, long-term supply chain stability, and service growth
  • Access to a full suite of supply chain services in the PNW Gateway through UWL’s parent company, World Group

A Foundation for the Future

As global freight networks demand greater resilience, the service continues to evolve, delivering a balance of predictability, speed, and supply chain confidence to shippers from Southeast Asia to the U.S. West Coast. The new partnership between ESL and UWL emphasizes long-term scalability, offering more shippers the opportunity to experience Sun Chief Express.