The first two of an eventual total of six Super PostPanamax Ship-To-Shore (STS) cranes are being delivered this week to Cai Mep International Terminal (CMIT) in the Cai Mep – Thi Vai port complex located approximately 80kms southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. Six Rubber Tyred Gantries (RTGs) will complete this first shipment with a further two STS cranes and seven RTGs following in mid-February.
“The newly delivered cranes are termed “Super Post-Panamax” in recognition of their ability to handle the very largest vessels currently afloat” noted Michael Them Rasmussen, General Director of CMIT. With an outreach of 22 container bays, the new cranes are able to handle vessels up to a size of 15,000 TEU when CMIT opens for business on March 15 th 2011.
“CMIT will be the first container terminal in Vietnam to cater to this size of container vessel and will be complemented by direct access to the newly dredged Cai Mep Terminal Channel offering a minimum water depth of -14m” added Mr. Rasmussen.
Shipping lines have shown tremendous interest in southern Vietnam over recent months with twelve vessel strings already offering direct liner services between Cai Mep and North America, Europe and the Mediterranean, and with a further three new services recently announced.
“With the new deep water access, and the continuing flow of new buildings exceeding 10,000 TEU into the Asia-Europe trades, interest in bringing larger and larger container vessels to Vietnam has continued” said Mr. Rasmussen. “Vessels exceeding 11,000 TEU in size have recently been announced for direct European services calling at Cai Mep, and CMIT will be ideally placed to handle such services” he added.
Container volume at the Ho Chi Minh City and Cai Mep ports surged by 21% in the first eleven months of 2010 leading to a full year 2010 estimated throughput of over 4.3 million TEU.
About CMIT
Cai Mep International Terminal Co., Ltd. (CMIT) was established on January 26, 2007 as a joint venture between the Vietnam-based Saigon Port, Vietnam National Shipping Lines and APM Terminals BV. CMIT, presently under construction, is located strategically in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. When it becomes operational in March 2011, this modern and efficient container terminal facility will offer shipping lines and their clients fast and direct access to and from the main shipping markets in Asia, Europe and the Americas. It is CMIT’s policy to conduct its activities in a manner that protects the health and safety of its employees and communities.
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Source: apmterminals, January 26, 2011