CSCL, Hanjin Add New Gulf of Mexico Express Service

Container shipping majors COSCO Container Lines (CSCL) and Hanjin Shipping have launched a new joint Gulf of Mexico Express (GME) service at the beginning of June.

The companies’ first call in the new weekly, direct container shipping service between the Port of Mobile and key ports in Asia, was scheduled for June 6, at APM Terminals Mobile, Alabama.

The new GME service will connect Alabama shippers to the Ports of Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, and Yantian, as well as provide transshipment service through the Port of Cristobal in Panama.

The U.S. Gulf rotation includes both the Ports of Mobile and Houston, according to the Alabama State Port Authority (ASPA).

The CSCL/Hanjin GME service is the third all-water Asia service which was added to the port authority’s container terminal since it opened in late 2008.

CSCL/Hanjin join the world’s top three container carriers already providing weekly, direct service between Mobile and ports in China, Hong Kong, Kora and Singapore.

The Alabama State Port Authority owns and operates the State of Alabama’s public, deep-water port facilities at the Port of Mobile.