Terminal 3 of Tanjung Priok Port recorded the biggest vessel ever call. MSC Tianshan, a containership with LOA of 334 meters and load capacity of 8,500 TEUs, called at this terminal on Thursday, January 13, 2022, for the first time.
The MSC Tianshan operated by the world’s number one container shipping Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) would discharge thousands of 40ft empty containers to help Indonesia’s export.
MV MSC Tianshan was originated from Umm Qasr Port, Iraq and destined to Qingdao, China. Agent by PT Perusahaan Pelabuhan Nusantara Panurjwan, MSC Tianshan would unload as many as 1,702 boxes (3,394 TEUs) in total and would load 103 boxes.
“We appreciate Mediterranean Shipping Company and any parties including Tanjung Priok Port Authority and Harbour Master for this MSC Tianshan call. Thanks for any supports for successfully handling of this biggest vessel ever call at our terminal,” said David Sirait, Commercial and Business Development Director of IPC TPK.
IPC TPK, a subsidiary of Sub-holding Pelindo Terminal Petikemas, operates several container terminals at some Indonesia’s ports, including terminal 3 in Tanjung Priok Port, container terminals in Panjang Port, Palembang Port, Pontianak Port, and Teluk Bayur Port.
Tanjung Priok Port Authority Head Wisnu Handoko says appreciation to the shipping line (MSC) as it will help solve the country’s problem of container shortage for export. He calls exporters to optimize those empty containers for delivering Indonesia’s export commodities.
“We appreciate MSC of its consistent step to reposition empty containers to this port. Hopefully this will solve the problem of container shortage in the country, thus securing our export to run smooth,” Wisnu said.
As reports have said, container shortage has taken place anywhere in the global trade, including in Indonesia (Jakarta). In addition to the increasing demand and disruption due to the pandemic Covid-19 outbreak, Indonesia’s condition is getting extra impact due to containerized trade model. Indonesia faces imbalance trade in the size of the container as most of the imports use 20ft containers, while exports use 40ft.
This is because imports to Indonesia (Jakarta) are mostly heavy goods such as raw materials while exports are light cargoes such as footwear, electronics, apparel, furniture and others that will be more efficient to use 40HC and d45 containers. Indonesia (Jakarta) lacks of 40HC and d45 containers, the ones needed for export.