Improving Business in the Wilmington Region
NORTH CAROLINA PORTS ADDS ANOTHER TRANSATLANTIC SERVICE
FEBRUARY 23, 2017
Wilmington, N.C. – North Carolina Ports is pleased to announce another new partnership with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Maersk Line with the addition of the TA2/NEUATL2 Europe-U.S. East Coast container service. The enhanced TA2/NEUATL2 service will provide unprecedented access between Bremerhaven, Felixstowe, Le Harve and Wilmington, North Carolina.
“An optimized transatlantic trade network allows us to align our services with North Carolina’s business needs,” said Executive Director, Paul J. Cozza. “As we continue to invest in our facilities we’ll see even more activity at our Port of Wilmington, thus furthering our economic contribution to the state.”
As part of its ongoing infrastructure investment plan, North Carolina Ports recently announced the order of two New Panamax ship-to-shore cranes with an option to purchase two more from designer Shanghai Zhenjua Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (ZPMC). Between the new cranes, turning basin expansion project, various berth improvements, and the expansion of the container yard, North Carolina Ports will pump over $120 million into its infrastructure over the next few years.
These investments, along with the operational efficiencies associated with North Carolina Ports, have led, in part, to recent service additions at the Port of Wilmington. The TA2/NEUATL2 service rotation includes port calls in Bremerhaven, Felixstowe, Antwerp and Le Havre in Europe. The transatlantic network touts market leading transit times to the U.S. East Coast and will begin calling the Port of Wilmington in April.
“This service opens up capacity for supplementary imports and exports from markets in Northern Europe,” said Chief Commercial Officer, Greg Fennell. “To have the top two container carriers in the world come together and provide service options for us on the transatlantic and transpacific side is pretty special.”
The scale of this transatlantic network has led to slot purchase agreements, reached directly with Hamburg Sud and Hyundai. All vessels associated with this service will be operated exclusively by MSC and Maersk Line (which combine to make the 2M Alliance). The 2M partners already deploy multiple strings into the Port of Wilmington. The TP10/Amberjack all-water Asia-U.S. East Coast container service began in early October of 2016. In addition, Maersk Line runs services via its Intra-Americas regional ocean carrier – SeaLand. The SeaLand Atlantico and revised SAE services provide access to Latin America for ports customers.
North Carolina’s ports in Wilmington and Morehead City, plus inland terminals in Charlotte and in Greensboro, link the state’s consumers, businesses and industry to world markets, and serve as magnets to attract new business and industry to the State of North Carolina. Port activities contribute statewide to 76,000 jobs and $700 million each year in state and local tax revenues.
INFORMATION: Cliff Pyron
Senior Manager, External Affairs
(910) 343-6492
