Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), one of the largest container shipping companies in Japan, is looking at the possibility of pairing with the Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) to boost its cargo-holding capacity at two ports in the South Pacific, according to the Solomon Star.
The local newspaper has reported that NYK’s senior representative Yasutada Kobayashi-san has held talks with the Eranda Kotelawala, SIPA’s CEO, and has also toured the newly expanded Honiara port.
It added that the purpose of the visit by NYK and Carpenters Shipping, NYK’s agent in the Pacific region, was to explore further cooperation with SIPA to increase cargo volumes through the Port of Honiara and Port of Noro.
In an interview with Solomon Star, Kotelawala said: “SIPA is planning to transform itself into a regional transshipment hub, transshipping vehicles via the Honiara Port to the rest of the (pacific) regional ports.
“SIPA is discussing plans with NYK and Carpenters to improve its (port cargo) volume in the future and increased (shipping liner) calls to Solomon Islands.”
