China's transport ministry takes steps to encourage cross-strait shipping
CHINA's transport ministry has introduced a number of measures to support mainland-Taiwan shipping operators during hardship caused by downturn, Xinhua reports.
The measures includes adding Yantai Port's Penglai port area and Shenzhen's Dachan Bay port area to the list of approved cross-strait direct shipping terminals. With the two newly added port areas, there are 72 ports and port areas for cross-strait direct shipping in the mainland and a total of 83 in both the mainland and Taiwan.
Another measure is to strengthen cooperation between the mainland and Taiwan on maritime rescue services and build up an effective rescue contact mechanism.
China will also strengthen administration on the mainland-Taiwan shipping market, giving heavier penalty for carriers that illegally operates cross-strait shipping services, ship broking and cargo handling services.
Besides, the ministry will also secure fair competition in the market and prevent destructive competition like price undercutting. The ministry also plans to develop official record system for the cross-strait shipping rates.
Mainland-Taiwan direct shipping is launched in December 2008. As of the end of the June this year, cross-strait direct shipments have totalled to 220 million tonnes in terms of tonnage and six million TEU in terms of container. Passenger volume have totalled to 5.5 million.