The maiden call Ceremony of Shantou-Taiwan direct container service was held on Shantou international container terminal at 0400 P.M. on January 18, 2009.

At 5:00 p.m., with long hoots, M/V “Far East Cheer” raised anchor and slowly left Shantou international container terminal with container goods on board for a direct sail to Kaoshiung Port of Taiwan. This remarked the formal opening of the South China/Taiwan direct service (STD) operated by China United Lines Ltd. Shantou city finally realized the long anticipated direct cross-straits transportation service . The service has eased the transportation from Eastern Guangdong areas to Taiwan and even beneficial to the whole province, thereby this Service remarking as a new era of Shantou Port.
Shantou is a port city of Guangdong Province where and only 180 nautical miles away from Kaohsiung, Taiwan. With the opening of STD Service,the cargoes can arrive at Kaohsiung Port in about 16 hours after departure from Shantou.  It will significantly shorten the transportation time between Taiwan and Shantou, East Guangdong, south Jiangxi and southwest Fujian, and thusto enhance transportation efficiency, reducing logistic costand therefore increasingthe cargoes and economics exchange among the areas.  The direct service between Shantou and Taiwan will also provide more cooperation opportunities for the enterprises in the two places and enhance the efficiency and core competitiveness of the enterprises in the two places. The direct sailing will also helpto promote Shantou become a logistic hub and shipping Center in East Guangdong province, and eventually benefit to the economic development in Shantou City.