On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, Taiwan’s Wan Hai Lines launched the China India Express 2 (CI2) service at Cochin Port with the inaugural call at the International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT), Vallarpadom by its vessel Wan Hai 510.
The commemoration ceremony started with the exchange of commemorative plaques between the vessel Capt., Cochin Port Trust, ICTT (DP World), Wan Hai and Omega Shipping. Gracing the occasion were Capt. Xijun Song, Master of vessel Wan Hai 510; Dr M. Beena, IAS, Chairperson, Cochin Port Trust; Capt. Joseph J. Alapatt, Deputy Conservator, Cochin Port Trust; Mr Goutam Gupta, Traffic Manager, Cochin Port Trust; Mr Pullela Nageswara Rao, Chief Commissioner of Customs; Mr Abby Yang, Chief Owner’s Representative, Wan Hai Lines (India) Pvt. Ltd; Mr Andrew Yang, Taipei Head Office, Wan Hai Lines Ltd; Mr George Abrao, Managing Director, Omega Shipping Agencies Pvt. Ltd; Mr Lenny Abrao, Director, Omega Shipping Agencies Pvt. Ltd; Mr Edman Chen, Owner’s Representative, Wan Hai Lines (India) Pvt. Ltd; Mr Albert Lin, Owner’s Representative, Wan Hai Lines (India) Pvt. Ltd; and Mr Austen Kao, Owner’s Representative, Wan Hai Lines (India) Pvt. Ltd.
The service has the following port rotation from Cochin: Cochin-Penang, Port Klang; Hong Kong, China – Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekhou
It also offers quick connections with multiple services to:
* Taiwan – Keelung, Taichung, Kaoushing
* Japan – All base ports, Moji, Hakata, Yokkaichi, Imari, Shibushi
* China – Huangpu, Xiamen, Xingang, Wuhan, Tianjin, Nansha, Fuzhou and all major ports and inland points
* Korea – Busan, Incheon, Kwangyang
* Vietnam – Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh, Danang
* Indonesia – Jakarta, Belawan, Surabaya, Semarang
* Thailand – Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Lat Krabang
* Philippines – North Manila, South Manila, Cebu, Davao
* US West Coast – Long Beach, Oakland
* West Coast of South America – Callao, Buenaventura, Guayaquil, Puerto Quetzal, Manzanillo, Lazaro Cardenas, San Antonio, Iquique
Mr Praveen Joseph, Chief Executive Officer of DP World (ICTT Vallarpadam), welcomed the gathering and spoke of the importance and value brought to Cochin Port, the container terminal and the export and import community by such mainline direct services. As Wan Hai Lines, a prominent intra-Asian carrier, is operating the service, there is bound to be growth and enhancement to the service over time. He also said that Wan Hai Lines, ably supported by its agent Omega Shipping, would certainly provide great support and bring growth to the volumes on this service and the trade lane.
Dr M. Beena spoke about the long and historical ties between China and Cochin, pointing to the Chinese fishing nets and the growing trade between China and the Far East sector and Cochin Port. The value being brought by the service, which will link key ports in China and other Far East ports to Cochin, is through providing faster transit and better connectivity. She thanked Wan Hai Lines and its agent for bringing the service to Cochin Port.
