Those mainland-registered shipping lines and their agents that wish to start direct services between the mainland and Taiwan have been promised a speedy approval procedure by the Ministry of Transport. Starting from 15 December, so long as applicants submit the relevant documentation, use capital and deploy vessels registered inside the mainland or Taiwan, the ministry will issue permits within a maximum of 20 days, according to a recent ministry circular.
Until now, 18 shipping lines with more than 30 vessels have been involved in regular container services between the mainland and Taiwan via a third territory, typically Hong Kong. Irregular services for bulk cargo such as coal and sand have also been provided via a third territory.
The circular also states that foreign shipping lines and foreign flagged vessels are not allowed to conduct direct service without permits.
Minsheng Shipping Co has been given permission to operate direct sailings between Chongqing and Taiwan, the first company in central or western China to win such approval. Two cargo vessels will be deployed on the service, which will result in a time saving of some 15 hours on single voyages. Previously, vessels sailing from Cuntan had to sail first to Ishigaki, the second-largest island of Japan’s Yaeyama Island group, and register there before completing the journey to Taiwan.
As a result of this development, more cargo from Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan and other areas in the region will be transported to Taiwan, said an employee of Minsheng Shipping.