HIGHLIGHTS
- The new centre is jointly developed by the Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) and leading shipping lines, including Maersk, CMA CGM, MSC and Evergreen.
- The Shanghai port empty container transportation centre for the Northeast Asian region aims to provide maintenance services for empty containers and accelerate the turnover efficiency of empty containers in the port.
FULL ARTICLE
The new centre is jointly developed by the Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) and leading shipping lines, including Maersk, CMA CGM, MSC and Evergreen. While part of Zhoushan in Zhejiang province, Yangshan was developed as a Shanghai sub-port to enable the latter to handle more cargo.
The Shanghai port empty container transportation centre for the Northeast Asian region aims to provide maintenance services for empty containers and accelerate the turnover efficiency of empty containers in the port. From there, it is possible to reduce sea freight rates, which have been pushed up due to the recent shortage of empty containers.
SIPG’s senior marketing manager, Chen Wei, said the container dispatching centre was part of a 450,000 square meter empty container transfer yard. He explained: “Freeing such a large physical space to store empty containers is conducive to overall planning and reducing logistics costs. The container dispatch centre is not only a concept of a yard, but also involves the development of many innovative businesses, including container matching, land-based and water transport.”
According to statistics from China’s Ministry of Transport, the shortage of empty containers at China’s major ports was 1.4% in June, declining 12.2% compared to the number at the beginning of this year. The monthly container manufacture capacity has been increased from 200,000 containers to 500,000 containers.
Mr Chen added: “The centre won’t only enable empty containers to be collected in Shanghai Port, but also provide supporting services, such as container repair, washing, and inspection. Shipping companies can be assured that empty containers will be given priority in Shanghai.”
In addition, China is planning to build a similar facility along the Yangtze River to cater for empty containers in the hinterland.
Minh Duc
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