APM Terminals celebrated the grand opening of the Guangzhou South China Oceangate Container Terminal together with Guangzhou Port Group and COSCO Pacific.
Guangdong Governor Huang Huahua, Guangzhou Party Secretary Zhou Xiaodan and Guangzhou Mayor Zhang Guangning presided over the ceremony.
The new facility, located at Nansha Phase 2, is a 4.2 million teu capacity container terminal designed to accommodate China's increasing global trade growth.
The Port of Guangzhou is uniquely positioned at the mouth of the Pearl River to serve the booming trade of Guangzhou, recognized as the economic engine of South China. Guangzhou's container throughput in 2006 was 6.6 million teu, ranking fifth in mainland China and fifteen in the world.
Guangzhou South China Oceangate Container Terminal has a total quay length of 2,100 meters across six container berths, representing a total investment of USD 500 million. APM Terminals joined COSCO Pacific in the ownership, development and operations of the terminal, together with Guangzhou Port Group. APM Terminals' share in the Joint Venture is 20%.
During the ceremony, Mr. Tim Haas, Chief Operating Officer of APM Terminals Greater China Area, expressed appreciation to the Chinese Government, the Joint Venture partners and the terminal management for their efforts in opening the terminal and commented that 'the terminal will provide customers with the best service in South China, and a new link to the APM Terminals' global terminal network'.
Mr. Richard Nicholson, APM Terminals' Vice President for the Greater China Area, added 'Our vision in the South China market is to invest in terminal capacity so our customers can grow with the trade, achieve better profitability and attain the speed, service and flexibility they need to compete and win in world markets.
Guangzhou's remarkable economic growth makes this an exciting time for all of us living and working here. We are committed as a company, and as members of this community, to providing opportunities for personal and professional growth as well for all of our employees.'
Terminal specifications:
- Draft alongside: 15.5 meters
- Draft of approach channel: 15.5 meters
- STS cranes reach: 23 containers across
- Refrigerated plugs: 4,968
- Terminal area size: 223 hectares
- Access for truckers: 12 inbound gates/6 outbound, and can be expanded to 12 outbound
