CHINA Shipping Container Lines' new 4,738-TEU Xin Qin Zhou vessel, the first ship named after south western China's Qinzhou port, was launched at Qinzhou Bonded Port Area International Container Terminal, Xinhua reports.

The 255.1-metre long and 37.3-metre wide ship has a draught of 13 metres. It has a dead weight tonnage of 66,903 tonnes. It was built in August 2010 and delivered in April this year.

The ship is deployed on CSCL's domestic trade lane from Qinzhou to Tianjin. CSCL domestic trade manager Song Tao said south-western China's fast economic growth will provide abundant cargo for the shipping line and that CSCL plans to launch more routes from Qinzhou in the future.

During the first four months this year, port of Qinzhou handled 136,400 TEU, 68.9 per cent more than in the same period last year.