10-Jun-2003

[10 June 2003, SHENZHEN] With today’s arrival of “MSC California/1A” of Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC), the world’s top 20 shipping lines now call at Yantian International Container Terminals (YICT), providing weekly shipping services to customers.

In 2002, MSC was ranked the second largest carrier in the world both in terms of container slot capacity and the number of container vessels operated. This is the first co-operation between MSC and YICT, who together launched a U.S. service named Orient Express at Yantian.

Mr. Kenneth Tse, General Manager of YICT, expressed his warm welcome to MSC. He remarked: “All the world’s top 20 shipping lines have shipping services at YICT. This highlights the features of the port – its natural advantages, cargo sources, service levels and management standards – are well recognised by the industry. YICT will continue to make every effort to enhance operational efficiency and maintain our competitiveness.”

Currently there are 40 shipping lines operating 53 weekly shipping services at YICT. There are 33 U.S. services, 11 European services, six Asian services, one Australian service, one shuttle service and one feeder service, establishing a shipping network around the world. This has made YICT one of the most vibrant and busiest ports in Southern China.

Orient Express calls at Yantian every Thursday and rotates between Shanghai, Hong Kong Yantian, and Long Beach. “MSC California/1A”, the inaugural vessel, is 202 metres long with a shipping capacity of 2,500 TEU.