CEOs and high-level experts from the Chinese maritime industry recently met at a forum in Tianjin to discuss sustainable development and ways to enhance the industry's competitive strength.

The Lianyungang port chief said his harbour was categorised by the state government as a major hub in the Yangtze River Delta to which the state pledged its support, saying this would help development.



Port of Yingkou vice president Wang Lai told of the his port's share listing plan to take place in the next three to five years, which he said would fuel the harbour's future growth.



A Yang Ming official, the only carrier represented at the forum, said ports and carriers needed to co-operate and embrace mutual support for growth. Carriers should adjust their operations as the port industry develops.

JAPANESE shipping line NYK will use the Grand Alliance's expanded Asia/Mediterranean EU M loop to provide transshipment to Tunisia and Morocco via Barcelona as part of plans to expand global coverage.

The first westbound sailing will commence when the NYK Sirius departs from Busan on June 26 to call at Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Hong Kong, Singapore, Port Klang, arriving in Barcelona on July 24.



From Barcelona, a feeder service will transship containers to the ports of Tunis, Rades and Casablanca, a company statement said.



To tie in with plans to leverage the Grand Alliance's weekly EU M loop, NYK will commence a weekly container service linking Egypt with Lebanon, Syria and Turkey starting next month.



The move is intended to expand NYK service to Mediterranean markets, particularly in the eastern Med to meet growing demand.



The new Egypt Levant Express (ELX) starts with the first sailing from Damietta, Egypt, on July 20 to Beirut, Lattakia, Mersin, and then returning to Damietta.



The ELX will connect with the EU M service offered by the Grand Alliance which includes NYK, Hapag-Lloyd, OOCL, and in the Asia/Europe/Mediterranean trade alone, also MISC Berhad.