Westports to remain CSCL mega hub

China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) will continue using Westports Malaysia in Port Klang as its transhipment hub in Southeast Asia.

Malaysian national news agency Bernama said China’s second largest carrier signed a long-term terminal service agreement with Westports in Shanghai earlier this month.

"CSCL will be deploying 14,000 TEU vessels from first-quarter next year as our 17m natural deep sea port is their preferred port of call,” said Westports' chief executive officer Ruben Gnanalingam in a statement.

"We have been constantly improving the productivity rate on their vessels. Our skilful workforce and state-of-the-art port facilities are ready to handle these growing sizes of container vessels.”

CSCL, a division of China Shipping Group, is currently the second largest customer at Westports, after French Line CMA CGM.

Westports expecs to handle 600,000 TEUs for CSCL this year, including the group's feeder line - Puhai Shipping, Westports said.

"Westports had given excellent service and we are confident of growing further in the next decade," deputy managing director of CSCL Zhau Hongzhou said.

Zhau also expressed happiness with the agreement saying it reflected the strong bond of friendship and growing trade volume between both Malaysia and China.

Westports proved that productivity is a core objective of business by setting yet another benchmark for a China Shipping vessel in March this year.

They hit a crane productivity of 734 moves in a single hour of operations with nine-crane deployment. This feat was performed while working on CSCL Pusan, a 9,600 TEUs vessel.
(Source:www.cargonewsasia.com)