Tripoli port becomes central destination from China to Eastern Mediterranean
The Port of Tripoli, a major port in Lebanon, has become a central destination for weekly shipments from China to the Eastern Mediterranean, the port's director told Xinhua in a recent interview.
A container ship of Cosco, short for China Ocean Shipping Company, a Chinese shipping and logistics services supplier company, arrived at the Port of Tripoli on Monday from China, Ahmad Tamer said.
Cosco is "one of the biggest companies for maritime containers shipping in the world," he noted.
According to Tamer, the large vessel, 300 meters in length and 14 meters in depth, was docked in the port with high navigational techniques despite strong wind and heavy rain, and emptied around 1,000 containers.
The Lebanese government "is keen on turning the port into a hub for regional transport services with its fast and advanced services," he noted.
Also on Monday, vessels belonging to the French company CMA CGM, a leading worldwide shipping group, reached the port from China, Tamer added.
The port director expected the number of containers arriving at the Port of Tripoli to hit 10,000 in December, while the number will grow to 150,000 in 2019, a dramatic rise of 400 percent.
Tamer said all Lebanese and foreign importers from China and West Asia could benefit from the weekly shipping line undertaken by Cosco and CMA CGM, which offer "quick services at low prices."
CMA CGM opened the shipping line between China and the Port of Tripoli on Oct. 9.
China Harbor Engineering Company has been working to rehabilitate the Port of Tripoli since 2012, for it to be ready to receive all big vessels.
The Port of Tripoli has expanded its terminal to receive the largest types of vessels in addition to creating a terminal to receive Chinese cranes capable of lifting and transporting more than 700 containers a day.
Attention is turning to this port nowadays for the role that it can play in the re-construction of Syria which has been torn by a seven-year civil war.
