Arrival of container vessel marks long-term tie between KPA, Evergreen
KUCHING: The arrival of Evergreen’s container vessel ‘MV Uni Aspire’ from Taiwan at the Senari Terminal here signifies the beginning of a long- term working relationship between the shipping group and Kuching Port Authority ( KPA) that is set to enhance the import- export cargo flow here.
In this respect, KPA chairman Datuk Awang Bemee Pengiran Ali Basah said Evergreen had come here at a very ‘opportune time’.
“The capital dredging of Sarawak River in 2017, as announced by the federal government, will enable bigger ships from Evergreen to call on Kuching in the future,” he said in his welcoming remarks during the reception at Senari Port administration building recently.
The MV Uni Aspire made its maiden call on Senari Terminal on Dec 12, where it was welcomed by the senior management teams of both KPA and Evergreen Line Malaysia at the wharf.
It is known that Evergreen ranks as the fifth largest shipping line in the world.
Meanwhile, Evergreen Marine Corp (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd chairman Dato Dr Kenny Ong Kean Lee said the group had decided to split its China- Philippines- East Malaysia (CPM) service into two – the CPM1 dedicated to Sarawak, with calls on Kuching, Tanjong Manis, Bintulu and Muara Brunei ports; and the CPM2 dedicated to Sabah, with calls on Tawau and Kota Kinabalu terminals.
Ong also said in providing a more reliable shipping schedule, the Evergreen Line would increase the number of vessels from two to four to ply directly along the routes between Sarawak, Sabah, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines.
“We, therefore, need the support of the business community in Kuching in order to maintain this improved service,” he said.