SP-PSA RECEIVES NEW MAERSK LINE SERVICE TO US WEST COAST - 11/05/2010
SP-PSA International Port (SP-PSA) today welcomed Maersk Line's 116,100-DWT (Deadweight Tonne), 9,038-TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit), 367-metre long container vessel 'Mathilde Maersk', the largest ever ship to call a Vietnamese port. This also marks the inaugural call to Vietnam of Maersk Line's TP6 service to the US West Coast.
The "Mathilde Maersk" and 13 sister ships, will offer a direct weekly service sailing to Yantian, Hong Kong and Los Angeles before returning via Yokohama, Nagoya, Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Yantian and Tanjung Pelepas.
The launch of the TP-6 service is SP-PSA's third direct call service to the US and offers Vietnamese importers and exporters an ever-increasing range of shipment options and global connectivity.
At a ceremony attended by nearly 300 dignitaries from the government, maritime and shipping sectors, Mr Le Cong Minh, Chairman and General Director of Saigon Port and Chairman of SP-PSA commented, "After the successful trial call of the ‘Albert Maersk' in February, we are delighted to have been entrusted with the TP6 service by Maersk Line. We also wish to express our gratitude to Maersk and the many relevant authorities for their strong support and cooperation in all the preparations for this service call.
SP-PSA already offers the highest vessel productivity record in Vietnam and with more direct services expected to start later this month, SP-PSA is fast becoming Vietnam's leading deep sea terminal," said Mr Le Cong Minh, Chairman and General Director of Saigon Port and Chairman of SP-PSA.
General Director of Maersk Line Vietnam & Cambodia Mr Peter Smidt-Nielsen said: "We had worked intensively for more than a year to meet our customers' demand for a direct call to the US West Coast. The challenge has been to ensure safety and security when entering the Cai Mep-Thi Vai river, considering the size of the vessel and draft limitations. Through close co-operation with Vietnamese authorities and SP-PSA, today we are able to bring in our big vessels. For our customers around the world who do business with Vietnam, the TP6 service will serve them even better than before."
SP-PSA is a joint venture between Saigon Port, Vinalines and PSA Vietnam Pte Ltd, the latter is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PSA International Pte Ltd (PSAI). SP-PSA commenced operations on May 29th 2009 and is Vietnam's first deep sea container terminal.
Strategically located near the mouth of the Cai Mep-Thi Vai river, SP-PSA is well positioned to serve the fast growing container traffic of Vietnam and become a major hub for ASEAN. The terminal will be developed in two phases, with the first phase of 600 metres of berths with 14.5 metre water depth now operational. When both phases (1,200 metres of berths) are fully completed, SP-PSA will have a projected annual capacity of over two million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers.
ENDS ISSUED BY SP-PSA INTERNATIONAL PORT CO., LTD For more information, please contact: SP-PSA International Port Co., Ltd Name: Ms Hoang Thi Lien Ngoc, PR Executive Tel: +84 64 3 92 4567 Mobile: +84 908501988 E-mail: ngoch@sp-psa.com.vn
Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) Name: Mr.Nguyen Huu Long, Director of Business and International Relations Mobile: +84 903447020 E-mail : longnh.vnl@vinalines.com.vn
Saigon Port Name: Mr Ho Kim Lan, Advisor to the General Director on Foreign Affairs Mobile: +84 903955750 E-mail: vpa@saigonport.com.vn |
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