First vessel in the joint weekly service by MAERSK LINE and MSC connecting Rijeka directly with the Far East
GERDA MAERSK is the first container vessel to be berthed at Brajdica as part of the new joint service held by MAERSK LINE i MSC shipping lines. The vessel arrived today morning, 20.02.2015. and is the is the largest vessel in the history of port of Rijeka.
The two largest shipping lines in the world, MAERSK LINE and MSC – Mediterranean Shipping Co. Signed a 10 years long Vessel Sharing Agreement last year, connecting the markets of Asia, Europe and USA under the name 2M East-West Network.
On this project both shipping lines have engaged a total of 193 vessels on 22 routes calling 77 world ports, with total capacity of more than 2, 4 million TEUs.
Operationalization of this VSA started at the beginning of this year.
This service will call 3 North Adriatic ports Koper, Trieste and Rijeka once a week, sailing into Rijeka on Thursdays. A total of 15 vessels is deployed in this service and their capacity is 9.650 to 11.300 TEUs.
Service starts on the USA West coast, and after they pass the Pacific the vessels will be regularly calling the following ports: Busan (Korea) and after that all the most important ports in the Far East (Shanghai, Hong Kong, Chiwan, Singapore).
It is important to point out the fact that the shipping lines have recognized the importance of our port in Rijeka and decided to include it in their weekly service, thus giving an opportunity to our business partners the quickest connection with the most important import and export markets on the Far East.
This new service opens up significant opportunities to attract additional cargo from central and South East Europe. Here we would specially point out Hungary, not excluding other markets with natural gravity towards the port in Rijeka.
Alessandro Becce, AGCT CEO:
I am very proud to be here today, having the honour to welcome the largest vessel not just in the history of AGCT, but of the whole port of Rijeka. This event will certainly be long remembered in the development of Rijeka not just as a port but also as Gateway and the whole traffic route. Specificity of this service is that its origin is on the USA West coast connecting 4 continents in pendulum – North America, Asia, Africa and Europe. Rijeka, being the last of three Adriatic ports in rotation has the advantage of the shortest transit time towards the ports at the East. Hence the voyage from Rijeka to the last Asian destination in the service, Shanghai is 31 days. I am pleased that the shipping lines have recognized the efforts of my predecessor, Phillip Marsham, and the whole AGCT team and included Rijeka in their weekly service. I would also like to thank our partners: Port of Rijeka, Rijeka Port Authority, City, Government and the whole maritime community for securing all that is necessary to berth vessels as large as this one we have today. Potential to attract new cargo from Central and South East Europe is substantial, but securing a reliable and regular connection on the land side is of crucial importance.
Vojko Obersnel, Mayor of the City of Rijeka:
Establishment of new direct services to the Far East, but also to Turkey, are significant steps in further development of our city. With these projects Rijeka is further positioning itself in the global market where, due to its characteristics and advantages, it rightfully belongs. Likewise, establishment of new services shows that we are on the right track and that, by our insisting on modernization of the terminal Brajdica and cooperation with foreign partners, but also with presentation of Rijeka Gateway worldwide and development of Rijeka as a Gateway, we have chosen the right path. Therefore, we will continue with the development activities of the Rijeka Gateway, which is one of strategic goals of the Strategy for Development of the City, primarily by the efforts for railway modernization as the fastest links between port terminals with the continent, and for the realization of the road D 403.
Vlado Mezak dr.sc., Executive director of Port of Rijeka Authority:
Investments of Port of Rijeka Authority in the development projects resulted in capacity expansion of the container terminal Brajdica, enabling it to receive the largest ships, and finally enabled business with the world's largest shipping lines and accompanying G-Class vessels. Only two years ago we would not have been able to receive and operate container vessels of such capacity in the port of Rijeka. Regular services enabling is the key result of the successful implementation of the Rijeka Gateway and successful business of the Concessionaire - Adriatic Gate Container Terminal. With the record achieved by the vessel size which is today for the first time calling port of Rijeka, we expect appropriate records in increasing traffic. These business opportunities at the same time confirm the effective way of implementation of developmental infrastructure projects and are a positive example of the concession system under the management of the Port of Rijeka.
