China: Shenzhen's Da Chan Bay Terminal One has recently held a seminar for more than 80 barge operators working the Pearl River Delta (PRD).
The seminar touched on business opportunities and how to improve cooperation with the terminal and port authorities.
"The best transportation method for connecting Shenzhen Port and the high-economic growth west areas of Pearl River Delta is barge transport, which is both swift and cost saving," said Da Chan Bay Terminal One CEO Andrew Milliken.
After an introduction, the gathering broke into smaller groups to discuss suggestions and feedback on cooperation with the terminal, joint efforts in exploiting PRD market, cooperation and communication with port authorities and possibilities for business development.
"In the last few years, the barge transportation network of west PRD had grown into the current mature scale driven by market demand and it is still growing each year," said Mr Milliken, adding that to reinforce this trend, the terminal joined the South China Common Feeder Alliance (SCCFA) in March 2008.
"Different barge services give open an easy access to west side of PRD, such as Foshan, Shunde, Zhongshan and Zhuhai," Mr Milliken said.
Da Chan Bay Terminal One is located in the western Shenzhen Port area, covering 112 hectares with five berths along its quayside which measures 1,830 metres long and 600 metres wide. Its 15.5-metre quay depth will eventually be dredged to 18 metres.
The terminal started commercial operation in July 2008.
Tracey Jia
