The new management of China Shipping (Group) Company (CSC) has reassured Westport that it will continue to be the group’s transshipment hub in South-East Asia although other ports in the region have tried to lure the group away from Port Klang.

CSC, the world’s fifth largest container liner, is also keen on taking an equity stake in Westport in a move to cement a long-term strategic relationship, said newly-appointed president Li Shaode.

“There are certain changes in the container shipping industry landscape, but the direction of our business strategy will not change,” he said during his meeting with Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy in Shanghai on Friday. Chan, who was on a four-day visit to China’s capital city Beijing and Shanghai, said Li’s words were comforting.“We should not be complacent. We need to improve our efficiency as Li had pointed out there was room for improvement,” said Chan. 

On CSC's wish to take a stake in Westport, Chan said that in principle the Government had no objection on it, adding that both parties had already been in preliminary talks on the matter.

For a start, Chan suggested both parties work first on the dedicated berth catering exclusively to CSC's container liners to establish a closer relationship.

After CMA Line, CSC is the second-biggest container liner that docks at Westport in terms of throughput. The group transhipped 350,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) at Westport last year. The volume is expected to increase to 500,000 TEUs this year.

Container volume in Westport grew 26% to three million TEUs for first 10 months of this year. Last year’s volume was at 2.91 million TEUs.

Source:佚名