Maiden call of 18,000 TEU container vessel at CMIT, celebrating the largest vessel ever to call at a Vietnamese port

Cai Mep, Baria Vung Tau, Vietnam  On February 20, 2017 CMIT (Cai Mep International Terminal), a joint venture between Vinalines, Saigon Port and APM Terminals, received the trial call of the m/v Margrethe Maersk 194,000 DWT, the EEE- Class vessel of Maersk Line, in excess of 18,000 TEU capacity. She has been deployed as part of the direct service between Asia and Northern Europe within 2M alliance.
Through its capability in accommodating this vessel, CMIT confirms its own vision as well as that of the Cai Mep port complex, as set out by the Vietnamese Government. The arrival of the Margrethe Maersk is a major milestone for CMIT and for Vietnam towards this vision, as it demonstrates that the Terminal can serve as a regional transshipment hub for the Southeast Asian cargoes, particularly destined for the Vietnam/Northern Europe trade lane, said Robert Hambleton, General Director, CMIT

The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport, Vinamarine and the Vung Tau Port Authority have all played a crucial role in making a success of this 18,000 TEU vessel trial call. Collectively, the Ministry of Transport, Vinamarine, CMIT and Maersk Line together with other relevant stakeholders have created an unprecedentedly close collaboration, in an effort to make the Cai Mep deep water port become one of only a few ports in South East Asia, which is capable of accommodating the 18,000 TEU vessels. It follows that this call brings a distinctive opportunity for further development in Cai Mep, Nguyen Xuan Ky, CMIT Deputy General Director, revealed.

A welcome event to mark this trial call was organized by CMIT on that day; those in attendance included some of the most senior officials of the Ministry of transport, Vinamarine and the Local Province.