DP World operated Chennai Container Terminal (CCT) has added a new China–East India Service – ‘CI5 service’. The new service will enhance connectivity to South East Asia and China. The service is operated by a consortium of five vessel operators – Wan Hai Lines, Interasia Lines, KMTC, Goldstar Lines, and BTL.
The new CI5 service is the first-ever service from Chennai that will provide direct connection to Pasir Gudang, Malaysia and Kaohsiung, Taiwan and will also offer direct connectivity to key ports of China in Shekou and Qingdao on the East Bound leg.
The service started with the maiden call of vessel ‘MV Interasia Heritage’ on January 05, 2021. The vessel arrived from Port Kelang and carried total exchange of 4690 TEUs of which 2685 TEUs were import and 2005 TEUs export. Inclusion of this service reinforces Chennai Port’s position as South India’s major trade gateway with state-of-the-art facilities and best-in-class infrastructure to effectively serve growing needs of the trade. MV Interasia Heritage is one of the six 4250 TEUs capacity vessels which will call the DP World Chennai terminal.
Capt R Venkatesh, CEO, DP World Chennai, welcomed the partners of the new service and reiterated the terminal’s efforts to render world-class customer service and to deliver best-in-class operational performance. The new service will allow customers to connect their cargo efficiently with better frequency and service coverage as well as boost the growing trade between China/South East Asia, and East coast of India.
P Raveendran, Chairman, Chennai Port Trust said, “We welcome the new service and look forward to more customers selecting Chennai as their preferred port of call. By the recent declaration of VRC rebates to vessels engaged in transhipment cargo as per specified norms, we are confident this new service will reap benefits, thereby adding value, minimising costs, and promoting Chennai as a transhipment hub.”
M M Parthiban, Principal Commissioner of Customs said, “it is our constant endeavour to facilitate the Ease of Doing Business at Chennai Port. Our recent initiative to digitise Customs clearance processes for paperless transactions, will not only enhance efficiency at the port but will also benefit customers by reducing the time and cost involved in import/export trade.”
Rizwan Soomar, CEO & MD, DP World Subcontinent said, “At DP World, it is our constant endeavour to innovate, add new products & services and create solutions that improve supply chain effectiveness and add value to trade. We are delighted to add the new service at our Chennai terminal and thank our partners for their constant support & trust in us. The New CI5 service will connect South East Asia and China to India’s East coast thereby, providing customers with fast and reliable options to link their cargo directly to key global markets.”
