On 22 September 2010, TCCT solemnly held a maiden call celebration for ZIM Integrated Shipping Service Services Ltd (ZIM) inaugurating its first direct service from Vietnam to Israel and Europe. Attending the event was Mr. Amnon Efrat – Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Dan Hoffman – ZIM’s Far East & Asia President and representatives from Saigon Newport (SNP) and Tan Cang – Cai Mep Container Terminal (TCCT)
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In order to meet the growing trading demand between Vietnam and many countries in Middle East and Europe, ZIM upgraded AME (Asia – Mediterranean Sea – Europe) service, a service connecting Asia, India, the Mediterranean Sea and Europe via the Suez Cannel. Calling at Vietnam ports, ZIM added Ho Chi Minh into AME service whose new rotation includes Shanghai, Da Chan Bay, Ho Chi Minh (TCCT), Port Klang, Nhava Sheva, Haifa, Ashdod, Felixstowe, Antwerp, Hamburg, Alexandria, Limassol, Haifa, Ashdod, Colombo and back to Shanghai. This new direct service will help shippers in Vietnam to save time and cut cost for ocean freight to Israel and Europe without any transshipment in a third country. AME service is deployed with a fleet of 12 vessels, 3,800-teu capacity each, and is deemed a breakthrough connection between Asia and Europe for rendering a specific route between East of the Mediterranean Sea and North Europe. TCCT is now attracting more and more shipping lines and shippers thanks to its modern container handling equipment, state-of-the-art international terminal operations technology, professional and dedicated staff and a strong and convenient barging service connecting Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and Cambodia rendered by SNP’s subsidiaries. With great volume of both inbounds and outbounds to Cambodia, the fact that ZIM launches AME service at TCCT will essentially attract a large amount of transshipment cargos from this market.
Subsequent to many direct services from Vietnam to the USA since Cai Mep – Thi Vai deep-water port hub came into operation, ZIM takes the lead in deploying a direct service to Europe, which will be followed by many other shipping lines by the end of 2010. Cai Mep – Thi Vai deep-water port hub shall consequently be even more active in the coming time.
