Inchon/Nampo trade extended to Dandong, Kookyang asserts

Kookyang Shipping, a Korean carrier between Inchon and Nampo trade asked the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to extend its trade to Dandong, China.

Kookyang said that they have covered only 30% of their vessel capacity in the trade, hardly escaping from deficit operation conditions. Therefore, they proposed extending their service area to Dandong, China, nearby Shinuiju, with a coastal operation license.

For operational carriers between Inchon and Nampo, foreign vessels going to Dandong have swept in with cargoes from North Korea, lowering profits for Kookyang. Chinese products have also been disguised as North Korean products, thus avoiding customs, paying relevant duties, and lowering domestic agricultural and dairy product prices.

As officials at the Ministry of Unification and port officials at Dandong are in favor of vessel extensions to Dandong, there remains only to get permission from MOMAF, said an official at Kookyang. He also stressed that this extension should happen as soon as possible so as to not lose South and North Korean cargoes to foreign vessels.

In the mean time, Kookyang replaced an operating vessel Feb. 7 with the ‘Trade Fortune’, a 250 TEU Panama flagged vessel. The vessel is expected to offer on-time service to Inchon/Nampo trade with on-board loading facilities.