Qingdao Port throughput hits 200 million tons

PostTime:2012-07-13 19:13:38 View:904

The Qingdao Port, Shandong province, recorded 200 billion tons of throughput and 7 million standard containers from January to June, according to the provincial transportation department. Starting this year, the Port increased marketing to offer shipping of iron ores and upgraded its loading berths to improve its competitiveness. A total of two iron ore berths and two common berths, designed to ship 31.92 million tons of cargo per year, have been built in the port.

Qingdao expects more growth as first half box volume tops 7 million TEU

PostTime:2012-07-09 07:44:29 View:944

PORT of Qingdao announced that its half-year container throughput this year has exceeded 7 million TEU, while its throughput tonnage has exceeded 200 million tonnes, Xinhua reports. This year, Qingdao will spend more than CNY10 billion (US$1.57 billion) on port projects. 12 new berths will be built at the Dongjiakou port area. By the end of next year, Dongjiakou will have a capacity of 222.6 million tonnes. By 2015, Dongjiakou's throughput will hit 300 million tonnes, while Qingdao's throughput will reach 600 million tonnes.

Maersk's fog surcharge in Qingdao comes under criticism from shipper group

PostTime:2012-06-01 08:11:19 View:896

MAERSK Line is to launch a fog surcharge in China's Qingdao, which the executive director of Hong Kong Shippers' Council, Sunny Ho, has slammed as 'unreasonable' and 'unacceptable,' according to Containerisation International. Maersk said in a statement it was launching a congestion surcharge in the Bohai Bay port of Qingdao during the so-called 'fog season' from June 1 to July 31 of US$100 per container for all destinations. Mr Ho said that all the different charges coming shippers' way were 'totally unacceptable.' The carrier explained: "Fog season in Qingdao lasts from May to July. During this period, normal port operations are impacted due to increase in waiting time as a result of fog-related port closures. Fuel costs also increases significantly in order to maintain our regular sailing schedule. In order to recover some of these additional operational costs, we are compelled to apply a Congestion Surcharge for fog season in Qingdao for all containers loading from Qingdao during the fog." But Mr Ho said: "Shippers have had so many unexpected charges - and now we have this Maersk fog surcharge. I don't think it's reasonable and think it's unacceptable. How can this charge be appropriately applied? How can they know when it will be foggy or not? $100 is not a small amount. It seems to have been arbitrary and imposed one-sidedly from Maersk." Commenting on the different charges being launched in general, he lamented: "We already have more than we expect and it's totally unacceptable, all these charges we are getting." And he didn't agree with the Intra Asia Discussion Agreement's recent rate raises across the Intra Asia trades, arguing: "Rates are not low, especially as costs are much lower in these trades as vessels are older and smaller; journeys are much shorter and as interest rates are low, the cost of doing business is low. "Shippers are already not in good shape, as they are facing sluggish demand. The companies in Hong Kong that provide export credit insurance say that they have received many more inquiries from shippers about getting this insurance. The reason shippers want this is because they are encountering difficulties in payment as rates are high, so they want protection from insurance."

Qingdao Hyundai launches MPP

PostTime:2012-05-24 09:43:30 View:712

On May 22, 2012 Qingdao Hyundai Shipbuilding organized launching and naming ceremony for the multipurpose dry cargo vessel Yashma (Jasper). The 5,039DWT ship of DCV36 Project is the final vessel of ten newbuilds ordered by VBTH. Unlike previous dry cargo vessels series (RSD44 and RSD49 projects) built for the holding, vessels of DCV36 project are seagoing vessel of unrestricted sailing region. This project has corresponding safety factor, thickness of hull elements and main engines capacity. The vessel is steel single-deck motor-ship with single cargo hold, single screw, with forecastle and poop, with deck-house and engine-room located aft, with a double bottom and double sides in the cargo area, with removable grain bulkheads, with bulb fore and transom aft ends, with hatch covers of “folding” type of Cargotech firm, with bow thruster. Vessel Particulars: Length overall – 89.96m Length scantlings – 84.89m Breadth – 14.50m Depth – 7.20m Endurance, days (in see) – 25 Speed – 12 knots Cargo hold dimensions of the vessel – 60 x 11.5 x 9.2 m, allow placement of 3 tiers of 9.5-foot containers and also provide the transportation of large-sized cargoes. Cargo holds capacity – 6230 cbm. Double bottom is designed for distributed load intensity of 14.0 t / sqm and for bucket grab usage.  

Qingdao port targets rise from 370 million to 400 million tonnes in 2012

PostTime:2012-03-22 08:20:43 View:819

QINGDAO port's throughput is expected to increase to 400 million tonnes from last year's 370 million tonnes while its container movement to hit 14.5 million TEU over last year's 13 million TEU this year, the port group's president Chang Dechuang told Xinhua. The port will put a 400,000-tonne ore terminal into operation this year with an annual capacity of more than 40 million tonnes. Moreover, the port will start construction of an oil terminal and coal terminal with a capacity of 300,000 tonnes.

Qingdao Hyundai Shipbuilding launches 9th dry cargo ship for VBTH

PostTime:2012-03-21 09:08:16 View:948

China’s Qingdao Hyundai Shipbuilding Co. on March 19 held a launching ceremony for the 5,026DWT M/V Charoite of project DCV36, the ninth vessel of a series of 10 newbuilds ordered by VBTH, the project designer Marine Engineering Bureau said. The Customer – VBTH is a majority owned division of Universal Cargo Logistics Holding, consolidating several Russian shipping (North-Western Shipping Company, Volga Shipping, VF Tanker, etc. ), stevedoring and shipbuilding assets (Okskaya Shipyard, BorRemFlot, etc.). The DCV36 project general dry bulk cargo carrier is a multi-purpose sea-going ship with unlimited navigation area versus the same class vessels of projects RSD44 RSD49. The DCV36 project vessels are designed for transportation of seaborne general and bulk cargo, including 20’ and 40’ containers with height of up to 9.5 foot (including reefer containers), metal, grain, timber, coal, bulk and heavy-lift cargo, dangerous goods of 1.4S, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8, 9, and Appendix "B" the International Code of Safety for High Speed Craft. The vessel project was designed to the class of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping KM AUT1 Ice 3.  The bulker is a modern single-deck, single-hold and single-screw motor ship of unrestricted navigation area, which has forecastle and poop, aft based deckhouse and engine room, double bottom and double sides in cargo holds area, removable grain bulkheads with bulb fore and transom aft ends, with Cargotec’s side-rolling hatch covers, with bow thruster. Ship’s general characteristic: LOA - 89.96 m; Beam - 14.5 m; Depth - 7.5 m; LWL - 6.4 m, the draft DWT – 5026 t. Cargo hold dimensions - 60 x 11.5 x 9.2 m, which allows placement of 3 tiers of 9.5-foot containers, and also provides for transportation of large-sized cargoes. Cargo holds capacity - 6230 cbm. Double bottom is designed for distributed load intensity of 14.0 t per sqm and for bucket grab usage. The DCV36 project lead ship "Amethyst" was laid down at the Chinese shipyard on November 16, 2009, launched on May 17, 2010, commissioned onApril 22, 2011. The keel of the tenth vessel "Jasper" was laid on February 28, 2011.  

Qingdao Port plans 2012 start for 400,000 T ore terminal

PostTime:2012-03-08 08:56:11 View:507

China's Qingdao Port Group expects to start operations at its 400,000-tonne iron ore terminal at Dongjiakou Port this year, the group's chairman said on Wednesday, adding it has not been approached by Vale regarding access for the Brazilian miner's giant vessels, Reuters reports. "We will accelerate the construction of the 400,000-tonne iron ore terminal and expect to start operations this year," Chang Dechuan told reporters on the sidelines of an annual parliamentary session in Beijing. When completed, the iron ore terminal would have an annual capacity of 40 million tonnes and Dongjiakou would be the first Chinese port that would officially have the technical capacity to receive Vale's huge dry bulk ships, also known as Valemaxes. Other major ports which have the potential to handle Valemaxes includes Dalian port, which earlier said it had upgraded facilities at its 300,000-tonne iron ore berth to meet "the requirements for large-sized vessels to dock as well as the needs for transshipment". However, Chang said Vale had not approached the company on getting port access for its 400,000 deadweight-tonnes iron ore carriers. China last month banned its ports from receiving big vessels that exceed their approved capacity, effectively barring Vale from sending any more Valemaxes to its biggest iron ore customer. Qingdao Port plans to invest a total of 30 billion yuan ($4.76 billion) in Dongjiakou port between 2011-2015, to tap growing demand for coal, oil and iron ore. It aims to increase its total throughput to 400 million tonnes this year from 370 million tonnes in 2011, including a 130 million tonnes capacity for iron ore, which would mark a 30 percent increase from last year, Chang said.

Qingdao Port says not in contact with Vale on vessel access

PostTime:2012-03-08 08:53:22 View:588

China's Qingdao Port Group expects to start operations for its 400,000-tonne Dongjiakou terminal this year, the group's chairman said on Wednesday, adding that it has not been approached by Vale regarding access for the Brazilian miner's giant vessels, Reuters reports. Chairman Chang Dechuan was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the annual parliamentary session in Beijing.  

Qingdao volume up 9.5pc in 9 months

PostTime:2011-11-07 08:34:42 View:611

  The Port of Qingdao port posted 9.5 per cent year-on-year growth in overall throughput to 290 million tonnes with container volume up 10.6 per cent in the first nine months to 9.8 million TEU, reports Xinhua. The port's foreign trade cargo increased 3.8 per cent to 202 million tonnes, while its volume during the first half year, rose 13.4 per cent to 198 million tonnes. But overall tonnage growth fell from a 13.4 per cent growth rate in the first half last. Foreign trade volume fell to 60 million tonnes, a decline of 30,000 tonnes year on year. Ships failed to depart as scheduled because of bad weather in July and August, making throughput drop 2.64 million tonnes. Iron ore volume also fell 15.7 per cent or 3.16 million tonnes year on year to 17 million tonnes.  

Qingdao volume up 9.5pc in 9 months, boxes up 10.6pc to 9.8 million TEU

PostTime:2011-11-04 08:24:12 View:536

THE Port of Qingdao port posted 9.5 per cent year-on-year growth in overall throughput to 290 million tonnes with container volume up 10.6 per cent in the first nine months to 9.8 million TEU, reports Xinhua. The port's foreign trade cargo increased 3.8 per cent to 202 million tonnes, while its volume during the first half year, rose 13.4 per cent to 198 million tonnes. But overall tonnage growth fell from a 13.4 per cent growth rate in the first half last. Foreign trade volume fell to 60 million tonnes, a decline of 30,000 tonnes year on year. Ships failed to depart as scheduled because of bad weather in July and August, making throughput drop 2.64 million tonnes. Iron ore volume also fell 15.7 per cent or 3.16 million tonnes year on year to 17 million tonnes.  

Kimpo-Qingdao container service opens Feb. 2012

PostTime:2011-10-31 08:48:22 View:821

Container liner service between Kimpo Terminal of Korea and Qingdao of China, which was initially planned to commence upon the opening of Gyeongin Arai Waterway is most likely to open in Feb. next year, Maritime Press reports. The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM) announced in a press release dated Oct. 25 that it begins a trial operation of Gyeongin Arai Waterway on Oct. 29, revealing the schedules for passenger ship and cargo ship service. According to the press release, it is likely that the container service between Kimpo Terminal of Korea and Qingdao of China Hanjin Shipping is gearing up for will open in Feb. next year and that the container service between Incheon Terminal in Gyeongin Port and a Chinese port the Chinese shipping player is to undertake will commence in May next year. The delay in construction works of container terminal in Gyeongin Port is blamable for Hanjin Shipping’s inauguration schedule accordingly fallen behind for around Feb. 1 next year. In fact, come next February, the said container liner service will possibly open. Hanjin Shipping, which obtained an approval for liner service between Kimpo Terminal and a Chinese port from Korea-China Shipping Conference held last year, plans to deploy a 200-teu class boxship on the container liner route linking Kimpo with Qingdao, but its plan is accordingly affected by the delay in construction of the container terminal. Back in last Aug. ten partners filed for the joint container service on the route, but negotiation on slot charter arrangement has yet to start, the Maritime Press is told. Nothing has been ascertained by China as to which Chinese port should be linked with Incheon Terminal in Gyeongin Port and which Chinese shipping line is appointed for the service. According to shipping sources, three or four Chinese lines are interested in Gyeongin-Tianjin service, but China has failed to inform Korea of its nomination of the Chinese port and Chinese counterpart for the service for no definite reasons though it’s already one year since Korea-China Shipping Conference was held last. Nevertheless, the MLTM’s timetable shows a Chinese container line yet to be appointed opens May next year.

Greencarrier opens in Ningbo, Xiamen, looks to Dalian, Qingdao next

PostTime:2011-09-22 08:14:05 View:879

SWEDISH logistics company Greencarrier, eager to strengthen its presence in China, is opening two new offices in south China's Ningbo and Xiamen in addition to the existing offices in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Its Ningbo office opened on September 1 and is a branch of Greencarrier Shanghai Limited, while the Xiamen office will be open on October 1 to handle cargo shipments in Xiamen, the special economic zone in Fujian province, and Fuzhou, the provincial capital. "As we do in our southern offices, we will offer a complete range of logistics products including sea/air services, 3PL and distribution centre solutions for garments. For us, these sectors have become our specialities since there is considerable demand for companies with the skill to be able to manage these more complex activities," said Greencarrier chief operations officer Niklas Olsson. Mr Olsson said Greencarrier is also keen to penetrate the north China market too. "We are looking at Dalian, Qingdao and Tianjin and have set a target date of early 2012, although it may happen before that," he said.