CHENNAI: September 27 would witness the launch of direct container shipping services to North China region from Chennai Container Terminal (CCT). The new service called NCC would be operated on Thursdays.

This is the fourth direct mainline service to be commissioned by CCT since March 2007. With this, Chennai is now connected to around 59 global ports as compared to just 8 ports three years ago. CCT has seven mainline vessels with 60 per cent market share in south India container volume. The first vessel of Sea Consortium (Sea Con), Wan Hai Lines and Cheng Lie Navigation would call at CCT on Wednesdays. NCC would depart on Thursdays to its next Ports of Calls — Port Klang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Qingdao, Lianyungang and Shanghai. It would take roughly 28 days to complete the round trip.

Talking to The Hindu on Monday, DP World Chennai Director and CEO Ennarasu Karunesan said “the NCC service is to be operated with 4 vessels of 1,800 Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit’s (TEU’s). Together with IndFX2 and ACS, the Chennai Container Terminal is offering three vessels of 6,500 TEU’s weekly to North China. Around 40 per cent of total consignment from CCT is towards these markets. Interestingly, IndFX2 was launched during 2003, while the new direct shipping services are being added in the recent months.”

“North China offers huge potential for Indian traders and Lianyungang is the new destination that is on offer to them. The major items exported to China are granite stones and slabs, while machineries are being imported into the country. The new service would cut down the time for importers drastically as these vessels need not have to call on Port Klang and Singapore.

Qingdao is a manufacturing centre for electronic items. In addition, it houses chemical processing, rubber and heavy manufacturing. On the other hand, Lianyugang is the prospective growth centre for industry, foreign trade and tourism.