Maersk makes bold moves into inland shipping

Maersk will provide Chinese clients with integrated logistics solutions that are more efficient, secure and environmentally friendly to empower Chinese companies to expand their global business, an executive of Maersk Line Greater China said.

Chen Xin, general manager for Maersk Line Greater China's multimodal transport products, made the remarks last week at the launch ceremony for its CCA (connecting carrier agreement) service at Huai'an Port in East China's Jiangsu province.

It marks the first time that Maersk, the world's largest container shipping company, has opened such a service on China's inland waterways.

Chen said the service, in response to the logistics needs of local customers, was rolled out on the basis of a strategic cooperation agreement signed by Maersk Line, Shanghai International Port (Group) Co Ltd and Huai'an Port in the first half.

"This year marks the 100th anniversary of Maersk serving China's trade. The launch of this service is an important step for Maersk to open a new chapter in developing river-sea intermodal transport channels in China," Chen said.

Liu Changman, general manager for the production business of Shanghai International Port (Group) Co Ltd, said the newly launched service has laid a solid foundation for Huai'an Port to carry out more international shipping business in the future.

It enables foreign trade enterprises in and around Huai'an to use Maersk Line's containers for Customs clearance and shipment at Huai'an Port, and then transport their goods to ports around the world via Maersk Line's global shipping network, Liu said.

"By seamlessly connecting the inland waterway shipping branch lines with international shipping mainlines, this service can not only reduce the time and procedures required for cargo transshipments, but also fully leverage the advantages of low energy consumption, minimal pollution and the large capacity of river-sea intermodal transport," he said.

Zhuang Dejun, general manager of Huai'an Traffic Holding Co Ltd, said the partnership between Huai'an Port and Maersk Line is of great significance for the city to build itself into a national inland waterway shipping center, develop a modern water transportation system and create a top-level business environment.

"Through extensive and in-depth cooperation with world-renowned ports and shipping companies, Huai'an Port has leapfrogged development in recent years," Zhuang said.

He said the container throughput of Huai'an Port in the first seven months reached 312,500 TEUs, of which 60,800 were foreign trade containers.

"Compared with the same period last year, these two figures increased 10.04 percent and 105.06 percent, respectively," Zhuang added.

Guo Jun contributed to this story.