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Maersk kicks off Wilmington port service
2009/3/9
The 167-metre Maersk Tangier docked at the North Carolina port of Wilmington at the weekend, the first vessel call by the world''s largest container shipping company in a new direct connection to central America for North Carolina shippers.
Maersk is the third shipping container company to begin service at the port of Wilmington, following expansion of the container terminal.
The improvements include a 12.8m navigation channel, berth reconstruction, four 30m gauge container cranes and a terminal operating system that allows customers to track their own containers online in and out of the port.
The South Atlantic Express service offers weekly vessel calls between Wilmington and Puerto Cortes, Honduras, and Santo Tomas, Guatemala, with over the road service to El Salvador and Nicaragua. Norton Lilly International is the agent and Ports America is the stevedore.
"Maersk''s new service at the Port of Wilmington supports North Carolina''s textile and apparel industries," said Carl Stewart, chairman of the North Caroplina State Ports Authority board.
"It will help to sustain the jobs of thousands of North Carolina workers in these and related industries."
Dana Magliola, spokesman for Maersk Line, said: "The arrival of the Maersk Tangier signals the beginning of a positive relationship with North Carolina Ports."
The Port of Wilmington''s proximity to the State''s textile operations increases their competitiveness in the global market though lower inland transportation costs.
"The cost of savings on inland transportation to Wilmington will be realized in the delivery of raw materials to the port for export to the north Central American zone, as well as in the return of finished goods to distribution centres in North Carolina," said Thomas Eagar, Ports Authority CEO.
"Our customers asked for service between the mills and manufacturing of North Carolina and the world; through Wilmington, we find strong local infrastructure and support to best serve their needs,"added Magliola.
"Distance eliminated from the transport chain through a stop in Wilmington also makes this an environmentally-responsible option for our customers."
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2009/3/10