Vietnam Container Terminal Gets Royal Inauguration

After almost five years since the establishment of the company in January 2007, Cai Mep International Terminal Co., Ltd (CMIT) was today officially opened by HRH The Crown Prince of Denmark and Mr. Ngo Thinh Duc – Vice Minister of Transportation.

HRH The Crown Prince of Denmark is visiting Vietnam from November 28 – December 1 on the occasion of the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Denmark and Vietnam.

“Today takes on a very special significance for everyone involved in building this modern and efficient container terminal” said Mr. Bui Van Trung, Vice President of Vinalines and Chairman of CMIT. “On behalf of all three of our shareholders, Vinalines, Saigon Port and APM Terminals, I would like to thank everyone involved in making this project a success.”

CMIT broke ground in the mangrove swamps adjacent to the Cai Mep river on 28th May 2008 and whilst still under construction, welcomed its first container ship on 31st March 2011, the 131,263 Deadweight Tonne “CMA CGM Columba”, a vessel with a capacity of 11,388 twenty foot containers and still the largest container vessel ever to call Vietnam. To date CMIT has already welcomed 104 mainliner vessel calls and handled 151,000 TEU of export and import containers to and from Vietnam’s major trading partners in Europe, North America and Asia.

Located approximately 50km southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, CMIT is the first container terminal in Vietnam to offer shipping lines direct access to the 14m deep Cai Mep Terminal Channel as well as the first to provide super-post Panamax quay cranes catering to ultra large container ships up to 22 containers wide.

“I am delighted that CMIT is already contributing to the competitiveness of Vietnam’s exporters by providing increasingly cost effective access to international markets” said Mr. Michael Them Rasmussen, General Director of CMIT. “It is also extremely satisfying to see the project come to fruition and to be joined in today’s celebrations by HRH The Crown Prince of Denmark and high-ranking leaders of Vietnam for our Grand opening”.

About the opening of Cai Mep International Terminal, The Ambassador of Denmark to Vietnam, Mr. John Nielsen said: “Our future partnership should reflect the impressive socioeconomic development Vietnam has experienced in the past two decades and the challenges brought along. This includes strengthening our commercial relations. I believe, Danish companies have a lot to offer in fields where Vietnam is facing challenges. APM Terminals, as part of the A.P. Moeller-Maersk Group and partner in CMIT is setting a fine example of a partnership serving the infrastructure needs of a fast growing economy.”

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World Maritime News Staff, December 1, 2011; Image: CMIT