China Shipping to Combine Two North American Service Centers

    China Shipping (North America) has plans to relocate its customer service center in Houston and its intermodalcenter in Chicago to make way for a new combined National Service and Operations Center that will be opened in a new location, which will be selected and announced at a later date.

　　China Shipping (North America) said service to its U.S. customers will not be interrupted during the relocation process, and there will be no changes at the local office in Long Beach, Calif. Furthermore, the freight transportation services company said it will continue to provide service for all customers in Chicago for the Midwest region and in Houston for the Southwest region.

　　“Several experienced Houston and Chicago employees will be invited to join the new center,” China Shipping (North America) said in a written statement. The Montvale, N.J.-based company noted that it plans to finalize the restructuring in 2014.

　　The parent of China Shipping (North America), China Shipping Group, recently announced the retirement of its chairman, Li Shaode. In the third quarter of 2013, China Shipping Container Lines, the Shanghai-based container cargo arm of China Shipping Group, reported a net loss of 404.4 million Chinese yuan (about US$66.3 million), amid overcapacity issues and weak demand in international trade.