Maersk Line includes Port Pipavav in the MECL1 Service

Maersk Line has included Port Pipavav in its MECL1 service starting in April, 2012.

Maersk Wisconsin was the first vessel to make the maiden call for the MECL1 service on April 4. The new service will connect customers in Gujarat and the North Indian hinterland directly to the USA. The ports of call for the MECL service are:

Mumbai-Nhava Sheva (JNPT), Salalah, New York, Charleston, Norfolk, New York, Jebel Ali, Karachi-Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, Pipavav, Mumbai-Nhava Sheva (JNPT)

“The MECL service substantially reduces transit time to the USA, which is a huge benefit for our customers. We are working to provide increased connectivity directly to the USA, and the MECL service is the first one to start calling Pipavav,” said Captain Jeyaraj Thamburaj, Head of Container Operations at APM Terminals Pipavav. “We are talking to other shipping lines and will soon announce other services.”

With this new direct service to USA, transit time to the US East coast will be 23 hours. The service calls on several US ports including Newark, Norfolk and Charleston. The MECL 1 will run with seven ships of 4,800-5,000 TEU each, all flying the US flag, which allows acceptance of US government and military cargoes. From Pipavav, cotton, garments, sea food, meat, agricultural produce, and other cargoes are exported.

APM Terminals Pipavav offers several services to customers reaching the USA, Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Far East. < Korea Shipping Gazette >