G6 Alliance commences patronizing Jaye Container Terminal

A plaque exchange ceremony was held on board the 8200 TEU vessel " MV NYK Virgo ", operated by the G6 Alliance partner NYK (Nippon Yusen Kaisha) Line, in celebration of its inaugural call at the Jaye Container Terminal (JCT) of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). The alliance touches Colombo on its loop6 service.

Formed last December, the G6 Alliance, with a view to serving the Asia-to-Europe-and-Mediterranean market is composed of the carriers in the Grand Alliance and New World Alliance: APL, Hapag-Lloyd AG, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Mitsui O.S.K Lines, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Orient Overseas Container Line.

The new partnership has created one of the leading networks in the Far East-to-Europe and Far East-to-Mediterranean container shipping markets with more than ninety vessels in nine services calling at more than forty ports in Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean. The synergy of these six lines will enable product and service features to be easily adjusted to market requirements."This is a milestone agreement that significantly improves service coverage in the Asia-Europe market," member carriers said in a statement. "We will offer sailing frequencies and direct coverage that compete with anyone in the market," they said.

The G6 Alliance launched six services between Asia and North Europe in the first week of March. Those serving Japanese ports will commence after completion of consultations with the Japan Harbour Transportation Association and labour unions. A seventh service will follow when it can be supported by sustainable trade conditions. The service will provide direct coverage to the Bohai Bay ports in Dalian and Xingang. Member carriers expressed their optimism that the new alliance will be characterized by fast transit times, broad port coverage and the latest vessels, with capacities of up to 14,000 TEUs. The new alliance will enable the most efficient integration of the largest ship sizes that will be introduced over the next 30 months.

The "G6 loop 6 service" calls Colombo under the following voyage rotation.

Kaohsiung - Xiamen - South China - Hong Kong - Singapore - Colombo - Southampton - Antwerp - Hamburg - Rotterdam - Jebel Ali - Singapore - South China - Kaohsiung.

To mark the significance of this move to the SLPA, plaques were exchanged between the Managing Director of SLPA Capt. Nihal Keppetipola and the Master of the vessel " MV NYK Virgo " Capt. Anil Khanna in the presence of senior officials of SLPA and the officials of NYK Line Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., including Director, Asanka Ratnayake, General Manager, Vishvanath Daluwatta and Operations Manager, Sagara Peris.

Commenting on the occasion, Capt. Nihal Kappetipola, Managing Director, SLPA said, "The improved economy of the country resulting from the dawn of peace has created a conducive climate for a boom in the Shipping Industry in Sri Lanka. This trend heralds a new era for the ports in Sri Lanka which is on the threshold of an economic renaissance with huge maritime-related infrastructure development projects.

"We have demonstrated to our valued customers, our management efficiency and operational capabilities and won their loyalty. This has been evidenced specifically by the G6 Alliance with the lead line NYK coming back to the state-run JCT after ten years. I most heartily thank G6 for choosing JCT, knowing very well that SLPA possesses every capability to deliver a highly effective strategy for business expansion. Under the Colombo Port Expansion Project, the 18 meter deep East Terminal will be ready by mid 2013 and a part of the Colombo South Terminal will be ready for operations by end of 2013".