New Container Route to China, Hong Kong Launched

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Dec. 19 – The new international shipping container route starting from Cai Lan port in Quang Ninh province to China and Hong Kong has been officially launched.

The port is the first deep-water port located in northern Vietnam with a capacity of accommodating freighters weighing up to 50,000 DWT.

Previously, test-runs on the new route were done using the MSC’s 1,090 TEU vessel, the Wellington, being the first to arrive in November.

A Swiss shipping company, MSC, has so far sent six container ships to the port with a timetable of one docking per week.

The Vietnam Maritime Administration, the Quang Ninh Port Company and the Waterway Project Construction Corporation also opened a new waterway approaching Cai Lan port. The waterway will be able to receive ships weighing between 40,000 and 50,000 DWT.

The Cai Lan port project began construction in 2007 at a cost of almost VND300 billion.The second phase of the port will begin next year and will be operational by 2011. It will be funded by the Vietnam National Shipping Lines Corp. and a joint venture between the Quang Ninh Port Company and the US-based SSA Group.