South China opens new int'l container sea route

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 ◆ South China opens new int'l container sea route

Hainan Province in south China launched the inaugural sailing of its first international container shipping route recently.

Two cargo ships, each capable of carrying 450 TEUs (20 feet equivalent units), or standard containers, will sail a round voyage on the route from Hainan's capital city Haikou to Hong Kong,Kaohsiung in Taiwan to three Japanese ports including Kokura and Hiroshima, once a week every Thursday.

Before the opening of the route, Hainan's cargo bound for foreign countries had to go via Hong Kong, which not only increased transport costs but also restricted the development of Hainan's foreign trade.

The new route can also connect with arterial sea routes to Europe and the United States through the transfer ports of Hong Kong and Kaohsiung.