Port Development Council News

Hong Kong is to establish a new government body - Hong Kong Port and Maritime Board - this year that oversees the local maritime sector, in a bid to enhance the city’s shipping sector. Hong Kong's chief executive Leung Chun-ying in his annual policy address for this year announced that the government will merge the existing Maritime Industry Council (MIC) and the Port Development Council (PDC) to form a new Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board. The board, to be chaired by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, will promote manpower development, marketing and research on all fronts to develop a high value-added maritime services sector, he said.

Estimates by the Port Development Council show container volumes through the 9 Kwai Tsing container ports fell 5.9 per cent in March. While the month-long dockers strike is costing Hongkong International Terminals a reported HK$5 million a day, the actual cost of the dispute is costing the maritime and logistics industry much more as ships and cargo are diverted to other ports, reports the South China Morning Post. Citing the Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association, the South China Morning Post adds that shipping lines and logistics firms have also been hit with extra costs as ships burn extra fuel while waiting to berth and vessels and cargo are diverted to other ports…