Switzerland-headquartered Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. has launched a new reefer-focussed service, the ‘Central America Express’, aimed at providing a broader range of faster services between the major fruit-loading ports of Central America and the U.S.
MSC launched Central America Express in partnership with Great White Fleet (GWF), the shipping arm of US fruit giant and fresh food distributor Chiquita Brands.
The new service will connect Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama to Florida and the U.S. Gulf (New Orleans and Freeport, Texas), while taking advantage of MSC’s Bahamas hub of Freeport. Commenced mid-October Central America Express is a two-string butterfly service.
The proposed deal will serve a specific commodity market while also introducing mother services to Central American countries other than Panama. Until now, other countries have been served with feeders departing from transhipment ports (Freeport, Cristobal or Balboa).
Press Release; Image: Freeport Container Port