Dalian: For the past year, a large number of breakbulk port infrastructure has been added in both coastal ports including Dalian, Qingdao, Tangshan, Ningbo and Yangtze River ports including Wuhan, Taicang, Jiangyin and Wuhu, which has eased up the facility shortage and port congestion problems. The addition of further breakbulk facilities is also on many ports’ to do agenda this year.
“We need more breakbulk facilities in order to avoid berthing delays and prevent port congestions. Some additional technical upgrades and further river traffic regulations might also help Chinese ports to remain open during fog or other adverse weather conditions,” says Marko Stampehl from Rickmers-Linie.
“We hope that the availability of additional breakbulk port infrastructure will generate new possibilities over time, specially when other highly frequented terminals are congested,” Stampehl adds.
Juergen Kuntz, general manager of BBC Chartering China, says the new infrastructure adds much value to project clients with regards to their inland transportation needs and he does see a number of opportunities through them.
“Port congestion remains a key problem for carriers as well as different points of view related to port and stevedoring rates prevailing in smaller ports and river ports, which in most cases are not referring to the guidelines of the government,” Kuntz says.
Shi Wenhe, general manager of Hansa Heavy Lift China, says the company is still trying to get better deals for calling at ports, especially along the Yangtze – something that has been a frustration for years.
“Monopolies on port operations need to be addressed otherwise all foreign carriers will continue to suffer very expensive port and stevedoring costs and it would be an advantage if more shippers’ private jetties could be opened. It’s a perennial topic but we haven’t seen any improvement so far,” Shi says.
This article first appeared in SinoShip magazine, which readers can access for free by clicking here.
This week Splash reporters will be reporting from Asia’s top project shipping show, Breakbulk China.
