Ningbo-Zhoushan Port container volumes pass 30 million teu

PostTime:2021-12-22 08:44:50 View:441

Container volume at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port exceeded in 2021 has exceeded 30m teu for the first time. Katherine Si | Dec 20, 2021 This makes Ningbo-Zhoushan the third port in the world to achieve container volume of over 30m teu in a single year after Shanghai and Singapore.  The port has played a key role in the development of Belt and Road Initiatives, Yangtze Economic Belt initiative, and the integration of Yangtze river delta, providing strong support to implement national development strategy. Related: Ningbo Zhoushan hikes port handling charges 10% in 2022 To enhance container shipping network, Ningbo-Zhoushan port newly added 27 container services this year and promoted sea-rail combined transportation, acting as a hub port for both sea and land container transportation.

Container volume at Tianjin port tops 20 million teu

PostTime:2021-12-22 08:42:16 View:375

Annual container volume at the northern Chinese port of Tianjin has exceeded 20 million teu for the first time. Katherine Si | Dec 21, 2021 The record container throughput indicated that the port has made a breakthrough achievement for container business, and its ability to serve for the national and regional economic growth has been continuously enhanced, the port said. Tianjin port saw 10 services this year  and connects with over 800 ports from 200 countries and regions. Container throughput growth rate of Tianjin port maintained the top 10 among global ports.  Related: Ningbo-Zhoushan Port container volumes pass 30 million teu In November this year, Tianjin port, Cosco Shipping Ports, China Merchants Port reached into agreement to jointly invest and operate Tianjin Port Container Terminal which could further improve container shipping service efficiency and develop the port to be a hub port in northeast Asia region. 

Ningbo-Zhoushan port complex reaches 30 million TEU in 2021

PostTime:2021-12-21 08:41:33 View:381

CHINA's Ningbo-Zhoushan Port hit the 30 million TEU mark in 2021, comfirming its place as the world's third busiest container port complex after Shanghai and Singapore, noted Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive. The achievement is significant as 15 years ago the port ranked 15th, and also came in a year when the container operations were interrupted by the Covid crisis. A ceremonial lift of the 30 millionth container took place on the morning of December 16 in the Meishan Port District with the decorated box hoisted aboard the 20,000-TEU Cosco Shipping Pisces. To emphasise the port's success at automation, only 50 nautical miles from Shanghai, the command for the container lift was given remotely and employed a remote-controlled bridge crane and a smart truck. China currently has seven of the 10 busiest container ports in the world. The Ningbo Zhoushan port complex experienced just over a four per cent growth in volume in 2020 handling 28.7 million TEU. While it is among the fastest-growing ports, it is behind Shanghai with its 43.5 million TEU in 2020, and Singapore with its 37 million TEU.

CIMC setting up deep-sea jv with Yantai Guofeng Photo: CIMC Raffles

PostTime:2021-12-20 08:50:41 View:360

China International Marine Containers (CIMC) and Yantai Guofeng Group will set up a joint venture to promote the development of deep-sea opportunities together. Katherine Si | Dec 17, 2021 The joint venture, Marine Technology Group, will be established by CIMC Raffles Marine Engineering (Singapore), Shenzhen Southern CIMC Containers Manufacture, and Yantai Guofeng Group, with a registered capital of RMB5bn. CIMC is expecting to integrate the group’s offshore engineering related assets in Yantai by establishing Marine Technology Group to focus on the development of high-end offshore oil and gas production equipment, offshore wind power, seawater desalination and other new marine businesses.  Related: CIMC Raffles bags four PCTCs from Zodiac For the group’s offshore engineering segment, the transaction can bring important resources for the development of marine industry in Yantai, which can further promote the upgrading and transformation of the group’s offshore engineering business, said CIMC. Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore and Yantai CIMC Raffles Shipyard are the two major units of CIMC engaged in marine engineering, deep-sea equipment manufacturing, offshore engineering & design, and related businesses. 

V. Group Shanghai issued Chinese seafarer recruitment license

PostTime:2021-12-15 08:47:18 View:528

Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration has issued qualification certificate for seafarer recruitment and placement service to V.Group’s new office registered in Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone Ling-Gang Special Area. Katherine Si | Dec 15, 2021 V.Group’s new unit in Shanghai is a sole proprietorship of V. Group, which could directly recruit and deploy Chinese seafarers for the ships managed by the group after acquiring the qualification certificate for seafarer recruitment and placement service.  “The company will provide integrated full-life circle service for seafarers and develop a Chinese crew center for V. Group, providing high-quality services to ships engaged in international shipping for Chinese and overseas owners and ship management companies,” said Wu Su, head of V.Group (Shanghai).   Related: Chinese seafarers’ basic salary to increase 7% from 2022 V.Group provides a full range of ship management and marine support services to ship owners and operators around the globe, having access to an international network of over 44,000 seafarers, covering all areas of ship management and crewing.

Forwarders brace for supply chain disruptions with new Ningbo lockdown

PostTime:2021-12-14 08:40:23 View:369

THE new partial lockdown imposed last week in Ningbo has highlighted the threat to container supply chains from China's strict zero-Covid policy. Positive cases in Ningbo's Zhenhai district prompted "closed loop" management to be imposed, according to local media as reported by UK's Loadstar. The city is home to the world's third-largest container port complex, Ningbo-Zhoushan, which handled 28.7 million TEU during the first ten months of the year, surpassing 2020's total throughput. There has been no impact on supply chains so far, but with similar isolated lockdowns within the Yangtze River Delta, including in Shanghai, some forwarders in the region are bracing for disruption. Chinese forwarder Triman Shipping said: "A new pandemic outbreak would probably lead to container terminal and shipping delays and bring more congestion. "The worst result would be a Ningbo city-wide lockdown, causing paralysis of the logistics industry and the terminals. "However, we believe due to the ability of China to quickly respond to the epidemic and control the local region, it will recover soon." Another forwarder, based in Shanghai, said the few partial lockdowns in China recently had little impact on the economy at large. "It happened in Shanghai two weeks ago after finding a few new Covid cases," he said. "But it doesn't affect the daily lifestyle or businesses of 99 per cent of the people. The lockdowns only apply to a very limited area where there are confirmed cases." Nevertheless, according to Lars Jensen, CEO of Vespucci Maritime, the Ningbo incident "clearly illustrates that there remains a high risk of further supply chain disruption from Covid outbreaks in China". Any partial lockdowns of container terminals could bring a repeat of the shipping disruption experienced earlier this year, that included the closure of one of Ningbo's terminals in August and the more serious incident when Yantian suspended export operations in May. However, in addition to snap 14-day lockdowns, China's zero-Covid policy continues to play havoc with vessel crew changes, which has created a shortage of feeder capacity in the busy period leading up to Chinese New Year on February 1. The arrival of the Omicron variant has added to supply chain uncertainty, with continued spending on goods over services helping to keep freight rates from China elevated. According to Platts, the all-inclusive, freight all kinds (FAK) transpacific spot rate is US$16,000-$18,000 per FEU. And in airfreight, China's quarantine rules for pilots are hampering airline schedules - notably Cathay Pacific, which recently had to isolate more than 100 crew after three pilots tested positive.

Guangzhou port to up container handling charges in 2022

PostTime:2021-12-10 08:17:16 View:387

Following port charges adjustment of Ningbo-Zhoushan port, the southern Chinese port of Guangzhou is to increase international container handling charges starting from the beginning of next year. Katherine Si | Dec 09, 2021 The 20-foot empty international trading container handling charge will be increased from RMB300 to RMB357 ($56), an increase of 19%, the loaded international trading container handling charge for barge container and trailer container will be increased from RMB540 and RMB490 to RMB583, an increase of 8% and 19%, respectively. Charges for 40-foot containers are 1.5 times of 20-foot containers.  Related: Ningbo Zhoushan hikes port handling charges 10% in 2022 Guangzhou is a hub port in south China for trading and container transportation. After the adjustment of foreign trading container handling charges, the port’s container handling charges are still at a lower level comparing with neighboring ports such as Yantian port and Shekou port. It is likely that more Chinese ports will increase container handling charges in 2022.

Shanghai Salvage contracted for X-Press Pearl wreck removal

PostTime:2021-12-09 08:28:37 View:550

Shanghai Salvage Company (SSC) have been appointed for the wreck removal of the X-Press Pearl off Sri Lanka. Marcus Hand | Dec 08, 2021 Singapore-owner X-Press Feeders said a contract for the wreck removal was signed with SSC on 2 December and the salvor had established a project team and mobilised the necessary equipment. The owners had previously said the wreck of the X-Press Pearl was resting on the seabed at a depth of 21 metres with wreck removal delayed until after Sri Lanka’s southwestern monsoon season from May – September. Related: Monsoon delays X-Press Pearl wreck removal “The wreck removal team will be supported by response tugs on a 24-hour watch to deal with debris or forms of pollutants. Regular water sampling will be ongoing at the site, with representatives of ITOPF and Oil Spill Response ready to respond immediately, if required,” X-Press Feeders said. The X-Press Pearl started to sink on June 2 after a container fire burned on the vessel for two weeks. Explosions were reported from the vessel in late May. The crew were safely evacuated, with two crew hospitalised for leg injuries. Related: X-Press Pearl disaster underlines need for action on dangerous goods handling Resolve Marine has recovery of the containers and debris that were lost overboard during the vessel fire and sinking. The ship's Russian Master was arrested and released on bail on suspicion of committing offences under the Marine Pollution Prevention Act. Eight crew members remain in a hotel in Colombo and have not been allowed to leave Sri Lanka since the casualty. X-Press Feeders said it continued to with the Sri Lankan authorities towards the repatriation of the eight remaining crew. Meanwhile the Sri Lankan authorities have submitted their second compensation claim. X-Press Feeder said the claim was, “being reviewed by the vessel owners P&I Club and discussions are ongoing”.

Shandong Port Group handles record 31.5m TEU between Jan-Nov

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Shandong Port Group established in 2019 and which operates Qingdao, Rizhao, Yantai and Bohai Bay ports, has posted a container volume of 31.55 million TEU for the first eleven months of 2021. During the period, the group added 33 new container shipping services, including 14 routes for Belt and Road Initiative. The group is ranked number one among ports in Northern China for shipping services and density, reports Colchester's Seatrade Maritime News. At the same time, Shandong Port strengthened the development for sea-rail combined transportation by operating 72 sea-rail transport services handling more than 2.3 million TEU in the first eleven months of the year.

Ningbo Zhoushan hikes port handling charges 10% in 2022

PostTime:2021-12-07 08:23:43 View:394

China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan port is to increase handling charges for loading and unloading by 10% starting from 1 January 2022. Katherine Si | Dec 06, 2021 The charge adjustments will apply to foreign trade import and export 20-foot and 40-foot loaded and empty containers. Handling charges are set by the port independently based on its operations and do not require approval from the authorities.. Related: Container volume at Ningbo-Zhoushan port exceeds 2020 total The port cited higher operation costs, labour costs, infrastructure construction and upgrading expenses, and the cost of efforts made to prevent and control the Covid-19 outbreak. Ningbo-Zhoushan port’s Meishan terminal was closed temporarily in August this year due to a Covid outbreak. An analyst from China Securities estimates that the 10% increasing of loading and unloading charges of Ningbo-Zhoushan port will bring around a RMB400m ($62.8m) profit increase for the port in 2022. Ningbo-Zhoushan is the world’s fourth largest container port.

Seaspan take in two 12,200 TEUers ahead of schedule

PostTime:2021-12-06 08:41:17 View:398

HONG KONG's Seaspan Corporation has accepted delivery of an additional two 12,200-TEU ships, reports PRNewswire. The containerships will begin 18-year charters with a major liner customer, marking the second and third of five newbuild containerships in this class, the first having been delivered in October, each of which have been delivered two months ahead of schedule. "These ahead of schedule deliveries further demonstrate Seaspan's operational excellence in containership design and construction under all market conditions," said Seaspan CEO Bing Chen. "Seaspan continues to over deliver in servicing our customer needs against a backdrop of global undersupply of containerships. I am proud of our team for their consistent performance, and we remain steadfast in executing our quality growth." said Mr Chen. Since November 2020, Seaspan has announced orders for 70 newbuild containerships, representing the addition of 839,000 TEU, adding US$11 billion of gross contracted cash flows, and bringing the fully delivered fleet to 1,959,200 TEU.  

Fujian port opens direct container route to Taiwan

PostTime:2021-11-30 08:25:26 View:313

THE first direct container liner route to Taiwan from Jinjingwan Port of Pingtan in Fujian Province has been inaugurated, according to Beijing's China News Service.As the first containership on the Pingtan-Taipei-Taichung Route, Lufeng was loaded with 100 TEU of goods in its voyage. It will sail Mondays and Wednesday with direct voyages from Pingtan to Taiwan from four to six times per week. The new route will significantly improve the shipping capacity to Taiwan and effectively solve the great demand for containers in Taiwan. In addition, the new route has shortened the travel time of delivering goods from warehouses in Pingtan to customs clearance in Taiwan to one and a half days, comparable to the efficiency of a flight. It will lay a solid foundation for Pingtan to build the largest logistics distribution centre to Taiwan on the Chinese mainland.