APL to continue operating Kaohsiung terminal

Taiwan International Ports Corp. has agreed to renew APL’s lease at the Kaohsiung port terminal for an additional 10 years, the ocean carrier and terminal operator said in a statement.    American President Lines LLC (APL) Taiwan Branch and Taiwan International Ports Corp. Ltd., have agreed to renew APL’s terminal lease at the Port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
   The agreement retains APL’s current terminal plot in the Kaohsiung port for another 10 years starting January 2018, APL said in a statement.
   “Today, Intra-Asia container volume accounts for one-sixth of all containers moved globally. We see further growth prospects in this trade where APL is seeking to be a major player,” said Nicolas Sartini, APL chief executive officer. “Our terminal in the Port of Kaohsiung will therefore be strategic for our advancement in Intra-Asia where we are connecting the key markets of Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam amongst others via the relay hub today.”
   APL operates two cargo berths with a linear quay length of 640 meters and draft of 15.2 meters, said the ocean carrier, allowing for ships of up to 14,000 TEUs to enter the terminal. The 101-acre terminal operates with an annual capacity of 1.5 million TEUs and has a productivity rate of 36 container moves per hour. It also includes a container freight station, a 21,000-TEU yard, three maintenance and repair workshops, two warehouses and two gas stations that provide “value-added onsite logistics support to APL shippers,” the ocean carrier stated.
   Looking ahead, APL will be upgrading its terminal operating system, “increasing its capability to enhance operational excellence,” the carrier announced.