Maersk Line shipping company opens a fixed container shipping route which is expected to create new opportunities for Quang Ninh seaport.
According to information from the Quang Ninh Port Authority, after a trial period, the world's largest shipping line Maersk Line will open a fixed route to CICT Cai Lan port. It is expected that I ship of this company will dock at the port every week.
It is known that this shipping company has had about 1 year of trial operation to Cai Lan port before officially opening a fixed route. The opened route will be part of the China-Vietnam connection schedule.
Accordingly, the ship will depart from Hong Kong according to the itinerary: Hong Kong - Cai Lan (Quang Ninh) - Tan Vu (Hai Phong) - Yantian - Ningbo -Shanghai. Goods transported are mainly dry goods, equipment and machinery, import and export technology...
In addition, from August 2022, SITC shipping line also started to test run into Cai Lan CICT. Up to now, 2 shipping lines have transported 12 shipments with a total of more than 7,000 Teus.
Sharing with Traffic Newspaper, Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, General Director of Portcoast Design Consultancy Joint Stock Company (Portcoast) said that initially, CITC port was designed for container ships of about 45,000 DWT with the expectation that it will receive goods traded in southern China. However, when it comes to exploitation, there are many difficulties. Due to the logistics network system, shipping lines mainly go through Hai Phong port for convenience.
Mr. Tuan assessed that a major shipping line in the world opening a fixed route at Cai Lan port is a positive signal for the seaport here. However, the important thing is how to maintain the line. To do that, many factors are needed such as connection infrastructure, navigational channels... and, crucially, cargo.
"The shipping lines set up a route is a necessary condition, a sufficient condition is the rear, the cargo. Currently, the road connection infrastructure in QuangNinh is basically good, inland waterways connecting from Quang Ninh to the northern provinces are also available.
Regarding goods, it is necessary to support the state management agency to create favorable conditions for shippers and transport companies so that there can be more flows of goods to Cai Lan," said Portcoast's leader and emphasized: Port enterprises also need to make efforts to stimulate demand, market, create favorable conditions for goods to arrive at the port, and provide the best services.
According to a representative of the Quang Ninh Port Authority, with the current conditions of the channel, Cai Lan port can receive ships of 85,000 tons with reduced load and appropriate draft.
"The shipping line is currently in the stage of business operation and is still experimental, if effective, will continue to maintain the service. It may take until the end of the year to see the effectiveness of the new train line," the representative shared.
Cai Lan CICT is a joint venture between Cai Lan Port Investment JSC (belonging to Vietnam Maritime Corporation) and SSA Holdings International (USA). CICT Cai Lan is currently managing and operating berths 2, 3 and 4 of Cai Lan Port.
This used to be the first container port to receive large ships in the North. Although it is a deep-water port, over the years, goods passing through Cai Lan port are mainly bulk cargo, dry cargo, general cargo...
According to the 2022 production and business plan report of Cai Lan Port Investment Joint Stock Company, since the ACS service line of HMM has suspended operations at CICT in July 2020, the port has not yet accepted to operate the route any fixed container.
Accessing shipping lines to return to a fixed route is still difficult due to objective reasons such as unstable airline feet, direct competition with Lach Huyen (Hai Phong) and a lack of stable export volume determined.
Source: Aloha Logistics International Company.
