The first companies to introduce the containership to Asia were Chinese Maritime Transport Limited and its sister enterprise in Hong Kong, Orient Overseas Line.
屬於已故航業鉅子董浩雲集團的中國航運公司，與其關係企業香港東方海外公司，共同經營從遠東運往世界各地的航線，已有很長的歷史。他們也是首度引進貨櫃輪的亞洲航商。