Busan transshipments outdo total volume

Busan transshipments outdo total volume    The Busan Port Authority on Monday said that its transshipment volume in 2009 fell to a lesser extent than overall volume due to active marketing of the port to 22 carriers and in five Asian cities.
   The port saw its transshipment volume decline 15 percent in 2009 from 2008, to 4.8 million TEUs (roughly in line with the drop of the world’s biggest port, Singapore, which predominantly handles transshipment). Busan's overall volume fell 19.4 percent in 2009 to 10.8 million TEUs. Transshipment made up 45 percent of Busan's volume in the last year, compared to 43 percent in 2008.
   The port said BPA president Roh Ki-tae visited 22 foreign shipping lines, including Mediterranean Shipping Co. and CMA CGM, to discuss how the port could tailor its services to better cater for their demands.
   'BPA has frontloaded volume incentives and provided various incentives such as deduction and suspension of port fee and assistance measures for coastal shipping companies as part of its efforts to transform Busan Port into a transshipment hub,' the port said.
   BPA also added that several line saw their transshipment volume through Busan increase markedly in 2009 due to the business inducements. The port said OOCL's transshipment volume rose 37 percent, Maersk Line 36 percent, CSAV 60 percent and APL 14 percent. Volume figures for the individual lines were not released.
   Aside from meeting with lines, BPA officials have actively marketed the port to businesses in northeast Asia, with 200 trade missions conducted to Tokyo and Shanghai.