OOCL backs North Dakota push to deploy agri intermodal trains

PROPONENTS of intermodal movement of agricultural produce from North Dakota, were cheered to see their vision realised, reports the local Minot Daily News.

One big backer of containerised agricultural produce is Hong Kong`s Oriental Overseas Container Line (OOCL), the first carrier to provide boxes.


"We are real proud to be the first ones here," said OOCL vice president Edward Zaninelli. "You have the right idea. You have the right product."


The inland Port of North Dakota began unloading containers from a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) train Monday with plans to fill them with agricultural commodities.



A number of supporters were on hand to watch the launch of the "Ag-in-a-Box" programme. Guests included Congressman Earl Pomeroy, North Dakota Governor John Hoeven, local worthies and a Chinese trade delegation, which happened to be in the area.


"This is a very exciting day," said Greg Johnson, president of North Dakota Port Services, the port operator. "The train has arrived. We have been open for business actually for about three years now, but the moment North Dakota has been waiting for has finally come."


Following the ribbon cutting, visitors watched as heavy equipment operators using a specialised machine lifted the first of 90 containers from a train and loaded one onto a truck.


Said North Dakota Governor Hoeven: "This facility looks fantastic. I think it`s just going to continue to grow and develop. This is a key, key development in terms of our infrastructure and a big step forward."


The governor explained that North America faces shipping challenges, such as inland distances to the coast. In Europe, agricultural commodities don`t need to move far to get to a coastal port, he said.


But he said Minot will need to draw interest from more carriers and work hard on finding imports, he said.


Companies don`t like to ship containers empty, he said. Because there is limited demand in a small state like North Dakota for imports, it is difficult to get the containers needed to ship out agricultural produce, said the governor.


Said OOCL`s Mr Zaninelli: "We felt that it was a place where we could probably work with each other in trying to get this off the ground," referring to the company`s standing alliance with BNSF.


The Chinese trade delegation at the ceremony happened to be in the area and accepted an invitation to attend. Peter Klaiber, marketing director for USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council, said the council typically escorts a Chinese delegation to see the size and quality of the crop at harvest time.