Vietnam received its largest-ever container vessel this month as the CMA CGM Marco Polo called at the Cai Mep International Terminal (CMIT), according to a statement by APM Terminals.
The 16,020 TEU container vessel called at CMIT on January 11, 2019, as part of CMA CGM FAL 3 Asia to Europe Trade Service, and was met by celebratory reception attended by government officials.
According to APM, it is a sign of CMIT’s importance to the South Vietnamese economy. The deep-sea container terminal has an annual capacity of 1.11 million TEU and has 5 Super Post-Panamax ship-to-shore (STS) cranes.
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The CMIT is a joint venture between APM, Vinalines and Saigon Port and started operations in Cai Mep in 2011.
CMA CGM Marco Polo Credit: CMIT
Since its commencement, CMIT has proven a valuable partner to the largest container carriers, such as CMA CGM, and connected South Vietnam to global shipping lanes and markets.
Consequently, CMIT sees 2019 as a another year of continued double-digit growth in container volume and believes it will both assist and benefit from the strong economic growth of South Vietnam and its increasing global connectivity.
Speaking about the growth of CMIT, Jan Bandestra, CMIT General Director, said this: CMIT feels honored to be given the sole trust to handle the CMA CGM Marco Polo. It’s a significant size vessel, the largest CMIT has ever handled, and we are privileged to have the confidence from the Ocean Alliance and CMA CGM to undertake the responsibility to operate this vessel safely, efficiently and quickly at our world class container terminal”.
Bruno Gutton, General Director, CMA CGM, also spoke: “As a key industry player, CMA CGM is fully mobilized to support Vietnam on its impressive path to rapid economic growth and will help shape its logistics and maritime infrastructures, through CMA CGM’s global leadership position, knowledge and capabilities. We are confident that Vietnam will develop into a key international maritime and logistics hub in the coming years”.
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