The Port of Felixstowe is celebrating the start of a new Transatlantic service which called at Britain’s largest container port on Saturday 3rd March 2012. The service which is operated by The New World Alliance Lines will serve N. Europe, the UK and a selection of US East Coast ports and Panama.
The Americas Europe Express (AEE) service is the Alliance’s third transatlantic service and complements the two existing weekly services that call at the Port of Felixstowe. Amongst its many features, the service offers shippers extremely competitive Westbound transit times (of 8 days) between the Port of Felixstowe and New York.
David Gledhill, Chief Executive Officer for Hutchison Ports (UK) Ltd , which owns the Port of Felixstowe, commented:
“This new service is a great addition to those already calling at the Port of Felixstowe and further cements our position as the UK port of choice. We are pleased to be able to offer our customers easy access to the most comprehensive transport infrastructure in the country whether via road, rail or coastal feeder. ”
The Alliance (APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL)), has deployed high-reefer-capacity ships on the weekly service with an average effective capacity of 3,200teu. APL will supply three of the vessels deployed whilst HMM and MOL will contribute one each. As with the Alliance’s APX service that already calls at the Port of Felixstowe, Maersk Line will take slots. For Hyundai it marks a welcome return to the Port of Felixstowe as a vessel operator.
The first Eastbound vessel (APL INDONESIA) is expected to arrive at the Suffolk port on Saturday 24th March.
The AEE service rotation is: Manzanillo (Panama), Charleston (US), New York (US), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Bremerhaven (Germany), Felixstowe (UK), New York (US), Charleston (US), and Manzanillo (Panama).
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World Maritime News Staff, March 5, 2012; Image: Port of Felixstowe