Golden Gate Pendulum Service:
MSC returns to patronize JCT
The Golden Gate Pendulum Service owned by the Geneva-based
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) commenced patronizing Jaya
Container Terminal (JCT) of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) on December
24, on a weekly basis expecting more than 1800 moves per vessel.
To celebrate the induction of this service to the JCT/SLPA, a plaque
exchange ceremony was held on board the vessel 'MSC Alessia', on her
maiden voyage at the JCT/SLPA, on December 24. Plaques were exchanged
between SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama and the Master of the
vessel Capt. Zvonko Barac and the officials of MSC Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., the
local agent for MSC.
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Vessel ‘MSC
Alessia’ at the Jaya Container Terminal of SLPA. |
MSC is the world's second-largest container shipping line, providing
a wide service network via dedicated offices throughout the world and
remains a truly independent and private company able to respond quickly
to market changes and implement long-term plans. At the end of October,
2009, MSC was operating 382 vessels with an intake capacity of 1,482,269
TEUs. With a streamlined management structure via Geneva, MSC has become
a leading customer focused, cost effective global transport solution
provider for many a shipper worldwide.
The return of the MSC's Golden Gate Pendulum service to the JCT/SLPA
is a clear endorsement by the liner community, of the current
development landscape in SLPA, undertaken by the present regime under
the directives of Ports and Aviation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa.
The Colombo Port Expansion Project, the biggest ever infrastructure
development project undertaken by the SLPA, in order to facilitate the
increasing demand for the container traffic in the region, and the Port
of Hambantota, which is currently taking shape, capitalizing the
locational advantage of its closeness to the main east-west shipping
route, have largely contributed towards customer attraction.
SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama, said, "The efficiency and the
increased productivity demonstrated by the JCT staff at all levels who
worked with dedication and understanding to improve service levels even
in this global economic meltdown which hit the shipping industry
worldwide, has been clearly evidenced by the MSC's decision to patronize
JCT."
"In terms of machinery and other resources, SLPA is well-equipped to
handle the world's largest existing and planned container vessels and
deliver unsurpassed standards of service and productivity to our
customers," said SLPA Managing Director Capt. Nihal Keppetipola.
He said that the return of this service to the State-run JCT was a
clear indication of the efficiency of services offered by JCT, the
confidence placed by shipping community who patronizes the
privately-owned South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT) and also the
popularity of high standard business ethics practiced by SLPA. He said
that this move would betoken a great future ahead of SLPA.
The Golden Gate Service provides weekly calls on JCT/SLPA on every
Thursday and the service follows a port rotation of New York - Baltimore
- Savannah - Port Everglades - Freeport (Grand Bahamas) - Suez (transit)
- Jeddah - Colombo - Singapore - Chiwan - Hong Kong - Shanghai - Ningbo
- Singapore - Salala - New York.
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