Longkou Port launches new shipping route to Cayman Islands

A photo of the grand appearance of the Minxin vessel. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Minxin vessel recently set sail from Longkou Port of the Yantai Port Group laden with over 1,000 types of general cargo, marking the official launch of the new "Longkou-Cayman Islands" shipping route.

Primarily carrying construction vehicles, building materials, and other infrastructure supplies, the Minxin vessel will support Chinese companies' overseas engineering projects. This single voyage has a loading capacity of 50,000 metric tons.

The new route, which takes only 37 days to reach Port of George Town, Cayman Islands, passes through resource-rich countries and regions such as the Republic of Suriname and the Commonwealth of Dominica, which are abundant in oil, timber, and agricultural products.

The opening of this new route will facilitate the smooth flow of raw materials, minerals, and financial resources, enhancing Longkou Port's comprehensive supply chain service advantages.

At port, Longkou Customs assigned a special team to guide the Minxin in order to streamline customs clearance and inspection procedures. By working overtime to inspect the loaded cargo efficiently, customs authorities ensured the timely departure of the vessel.

Currently, Longkou Port has opened seven general cargo shipping routes to Africa, South Korea, North America, and other regions. This year, the port has sent over 160 general cargo liner ships carrying more than 750,000 tons of cargo.

Looking ahead, Longkou Customs will make efforts to align with the port's development needs, continue to facilitate cross-border trade based on the port's characteristics, integrate regulatory operations, and optimize port functions. (Edited by Yang Yingxue)