Chinese shipping line to use Malta Freeport as a hub

Malta Freeport has secured a major shipping contract with China Shipping Container Lines.

The Freeport said that China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) had confirmed that Malta Freeport would act as the hub for its transshipment operations in the Mediterranean.

The service is expected to generate a throughput of approximately 100,000 containers per year and will increase the number of ports served by Malta Freeport to 115, including Vancouver and Seattle.

Only last month it was announced that another top shipping line is about to start using the Freeport after deciding to stop using the freeport's rival, Gioia Tauro in Italy. APL, a member of the New World Alliance, will use the Maltese port as part of a new service with major international shipping lines CMA and Norasia.

Lloyd's List had reported that Gioia Tauro, Malta Freeport's strongest rival, had lost the custom of three shipping lines because of endless delays and congestion.

CSCL will operate a weekly pendulum service linking Asia, the Mediterranean and the west coast of North America, calling at Malta Freeport on a weekly schedule.

The Freeport said that CSCL's decision had confirmed Malta Freeport's position as one of the leading transshipment hubs in the Mediterranean.

"The CSCL considered a number of alternative ports in the Mediterranean and undoubtedly the strong track record enjoyed by Malta Freeport contributed significantly to CSCL's decision to choose Malta."

CSCL is the container shipping arm and core business of the state-owned China Shipping Group which was founded in 1997. In a short period of time, CSCL became established as a leading container line, ranking 14th among the world's container shipping carriers.

CSCL launched its first major liner service between Asia and Europe in 1998. Since then, CSCL's services have been expanded to the transpacific and Australia/Asia trades via cooperative agreements with other, mostly European, carriers.

It now owns a fleet of 100 vessels with a total capacity of approximately 170,000 containers and is further expanding its fleet by the deployment of long-term chartered tonnage.

CSCL is operating more than 40 shipping routes through its domestic coastal and international container liner services from China to Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe, the Mediterranean, North America, West Africa and the Middle East.