Gwangyang Port Signals Recovery in Container Throughput with New Voyage Attraction

Strengthening Connectivity with a Total of 84 Trips... Reducing Logistics Costs and Generating Export-Import Volume

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] This year, as new container sailings at Gwangyang Port have increased, a green light has been lit for the recovery of container cargo volume.

Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority (President Cha Min-sik, hereinafter referred to as the Authority) announced on the 6th that despite difficult domestic and international conditions such as the spread of COVID-19, it attracted 7 new sailings during the first quarter of this year.

According to the Authority, starting with the GSX Guam-Saipan service of CMA-CGM, the world's 4th largest shipping company, on February 8, new calls at Gwangyang Port included the national carrier Pan Ocean's Northeast Asia service KSC, Janggeum and Heung-a Line STS, Korea and Namseong Shipping NCQ, and SCL's KDS service, a coastal feeder service connecting Gwangyang Port and Donghae Port.

In addition, the Authority confirmed the attraction of two new sailings: Heung-a Line SIS2 and Evergreen KCV Southeast Asia, which are scheduled to begin full operation from the second quarter.

Along with this, the Authority is actively pursuing negotiations to attract deep-sea routes not currently calling at Gwangyang Port by global mega alliances, including Central and South America and the U.S. East Coast.

The Authority expects that the attraction of these 7 new services will generate an annual volume of 120,000 TEU.

In particular, the number of container service sailings at Gwangyang Port has increased to a total of 84 sailings, which is expected to reduce logistics costs for local shippers through strengthened route connectivity and create new export-import volumes.

Jang Bang-sik, Head of Marketing, said, “Increasing the number of port calls and diversifying routes are essential elements for the recovery of the local export-import industry, which has been stagnant due to COVID-19, and for the mid- to long-term strategy to revitalize cargo volume at Gwangyang Port. We will do our best to provide more diverse maritime logistics options and solidify the status of the nation's number one export-import port.”

Meanwhile, the Authority and the container terminal operators have formed a “Container Cargo Emergency Response T/F” to effectively and swiftly respond to the shipping port logistics crisis caused by the spread of COVID-19, carrying out various attraction activities such as strengthening non-face-to-face video marketing and promoting matching marketing with major shipping lines and shippers.

Additionally, the Authority is striving to secure world-class port competitiveness through efforts such as integrating container terminals, reallocating terminal functions, further developing hinterlands, and constructing fully automated terminals.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.