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 Carolina 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.
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