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July 31 2012, the “Launching Ceremony of Changsha Shenzhen Sea-rail Container Transportation Demonstration Project and Seminar of Hunan Province Inland Port Construction Project”, of which the major organizers were Hunan Provincial Department of Commerce, Port Office of Hunan Province Government, Guangzhou Railway (Group) Corporation and China Merchants Holdings (International) Co., Ltd. (CMHI) while China Railway Container Transportation Company Guangzhou Branch, Shekou Container Terminals(SCT), Chiwan Container Terminal(CCT) and Xianing Inland Port Co., Ltd. were the co-organizers, was grandly held in Changsha. As the first inland port project between Hunan province and Shenzhen, it also marked CMHI’s strategy of sea-rail container transportation embarked on a new stage of development.
Around 400 participants are present, including He Baoxiang, Vice Governor of Hunan Provincial People's Government, Song Jiahui, safety director of the Ministry of Transport, Hu Zheng, Vice President of China Merchants Group, Cao Jianguo, deputy general manager of Guangzhou Railway (Group) Corporation, Ma Yongzhi, Vice Director General of Transport Commission of Shenzhen Municipality & Port and Shipping Administration of Shenzhen Municipality, who delivered speeches in the ceremony. Mr. Hu Zheng mentioned in his speech: China Merchants and Hunan Province has been maintaining good cooperation. The rapid development of Hunan Province has draw our close attention and also brought us confidence. China Merchants will continue to seek the cooperation of both sides, to play a catalytic role for the rise of the Central China.
Hunan Provincial Department of Commerce and Port and Shipping Administration of Shenzhen Municipality, China Merchants Holdings (International) Co., Ltd. (CMHI) and Guangzhou Railway (Group) Corporation, China Merchants Bonded Logistics and Changsha Jinxia Bonded Logistics Center respectively signed cooperation agreements, in which, China Merchants Holdings (International) Co., Ltd (CMHI) was represented by Mr. Deng Weidong, deputy general manager of CMHI.
Following the ceremony was a seminar, presided by SCT Managing Director Erik Yim, for export-oriented economic development briefing and Hunan Province inland port construction project promotion.
In year 2011, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Railways signed a cooperation agreement to jointly promote the sea-rail intermodal transportation and identified the first six sea-rail container transportation demonstration projects, which included Shenzhen - Changsha line. On the basis of the Shenzhen - Changsha Five-Fixed (fixed spot, fixed route, fixed train, fixed time and fixed price) Scheduled Container Freight Train launched in 2008, CMHI started pilot scheme in Shenzhen Western Port and opened up the inland port, located at Changsha New North Station in Jinxia economic Development Zone. Inland port is a logistics center in inland areas, with the customs declaration, inspection, and to issue bills of lading and other port services. It is an extension of port functions.
With further regional economy integration of the Pan-Pear River Delta and acceleration of industries’ moving from coastal area to inland cities, Changsha has played a vitally important role. While as China's important international gateway, Shenzhen ranks the world's fourth largest container port and acts as an important port hub in the eastern coast of China. Combination of the two cities via sea-rail intermodal transport not only builds an ocean gateway for inland enterprises, but also brings Shenzhen port broad and solid hinterlands.
Sea and rail transport both have the characteristics of bulk transport, long distance, low energy consumption, light pollution and low price. Sea-rail intermodal transport serves as a convenient, energy efficient, safe and reliable transport tool for the clients in mainland with a relatively low logistics cost so as to enjoy the various value-added services and benefits brought by Shenzhen Port.
CMHI is the flagship company of China Merchants Group which has a 140-year history and it is also the largest public port operator in China. The port businesses of CMHI have covered the areas in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, Tianjin, Xiamen Bay and Zhanjiang. It has also involved in strategic investments and owned operating rights in Western Shenzhen Port Region, including Shekou Container Terminals (SCT) and Chiwan Container Terminal (CCT). In 2011, its market share in Western Shenzhen Port Region reached 51%, i.e. 11.49 million TEUs, where nearly 150 international shipping lines call covering the regions and countries in America, Europe, Mediterranean Sea, Southeast Asia, North Asia, Middle East, South Africa and Australia in 2011. Aiming to provide green, safe, convenient and efficient service by sea-rail transportation to public terminal operator continuously, Xianing Inland Port Co., Ltd., jointly invested by the western Shenzhen terminals under CMHI and Hunan Anxun Logistics Co., Ltd., has been established.
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