On 19th December 2011, Cai Mep International Terminal (CMIT) welcomed the CMA CGM LAPEROUSE to the Cai Mep – Thi Vai Port Complex in Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province. Belonging to CMA CGM, the world’s third largest container shipping company, and with a nominal capacity of 13,830 TEU and DWT of 157,092, CMA CGM LAPEROUSE is the largest container vessel to ever call a Vietnamese port.
This is the second time that CMIT and CMA CGM together have worked to secure the regulatory permissions necessary to accept ever increasing container vessel sizes in Vietnamese Ports. Vietnam’s Vice Minister of Transport Nguyen Hong Truong, Deputy Director of Vinamarine Do Hong Thai, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Provincial President Tran Minh Sanh, along with representative of the Vung Tau Port Authority, the Pilot and a number of VIP customers of CMA CGM were all present to welcome CMA CGM LAPEROUSE to Cai Mep.
CMA CGM LAPEROUSE is in transit from Asia to north Europe and the Cai Mep call is a precursor to the upgrade in size of all CMA CGM’s vessels calling in Cai Mep when the existing FAL3 call is replaced by the larger vessels operating on the FAL1 string in March 2012.
“ With Cai Mep being the last load port in the future FAL1 rotation before sailing direct to Southampton, the need for deep water access and a terminal equipped to handle these leviathans has never been greater ” said Jean-Charles Tassoni, General Director of CMA CGM Vietnam .
“ We are delighted to be able to finally put to good use our super post-Panamax cranes which are designed and built specifically to handle vessels of this size ” said Nguyen Xuan Ky, Deputy General Director of CMIT . “ With the imminent delivery of our fifth super post Panamax quay crane in January 2012, CMIT will be ideally placed to handle these huge vessels while delivering world class berth productivity” he added.
“ Ultra Large Container Ships of 14,000 TEU or larger are rapidly becoming the staple of the Asia-Europe trades and the call of CMA CGM LAPEROUSE to Cai Mep is clear demonstration of CMA CGM’s commitment to providing the very best transit times and service levels between Vietnam and north Europe” commented Mr. Tassoni.
“With the continuing flow of Ultra Large Container Ships into the Asia-Europe trades, we expect to see increasing demand for Vietnamese terminals equipped to handle this size of vessel ” added Mr. Nguyen.
[mappress]
Dredging Today Staff, December 19, 2011; Image: apmterminals