Hanjin Shipping lays off about one-third of U.S. staff

Sources said Hanjin Shipping will layoff about 180 members of its 500 person workforce in the U.S.

Fewer employees are needed because the South Korean liner carrier is no longer booking export cargo. One source said the company should still have sufficient workers to assist shippers.

The layoffs come after multiple media reports said that Korean Air Lines pledged 60 billion won (U.S. $54.6 million) to help pay for unloading cargo that is still stranded on Hanjin's ships.

Reuters quoted Vice Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok as telling reporters, "We've calculated the costs that will be needed to offload the cargo, and this can be covered roughly with the funds that have been pledged."

In addition to the airline, the Korea Development Bank has pledged 50 million won and the chairman of the Hanjin Group, Cho Yang-ho, has pledged 40 million won, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.

Hanjin posted a new table on its website, updating the schedule for its transpacific vessels bound for North America.

The Seaspan Efficiency was moored in Savannah and was expected to discharge cargo there before heading to Wilmington, N.C. and New York.

Source: American Shipper