New box terminal for Kaoshiung

In 2005, it carried 795m tonnes of cargo, which makes it one of the most important inland waterway complexes in the world. In contrast, China’s major north-south rail trunk route handled nine times less than that.

Interested parties now have until August to present offers. The concessionaire will have to finance construction of the berths, stacking yard, terminal infrastructure and handling equipment. The Taiwanese government will fund road infrastructure to connect the terminal and undertake dredging.

The concession, which will be for 50 years, states that the first berth must be operational by 2010, while the remaining three should enter service by 2013.