The Danish container shipping company, Maersk Line, has announced that it will begin weekly vessel calls effective Friday, March 6, 2009, between the Port of Wilmington and Puerto Cortes, Honduras and Santo Tomas, Guatemala in northern Central America, with over the road service to El Salvador and Nicaragua.
“North Carolina and our ports continue to be attractive to businesses around the world. Maersk Line is a perfect fit for North Carolina and the Port of Wilmington,” said Gov. Bev Perdue. “I will continue to focus on building up the capacity of North Carolina’s port enterprises.”
Maersk Line is the world’s largest container shipping company and has a significant regional office in Charlotte.
“Maersk’s new service at the Port of Wilmington supports North Carolina’s textile and apparel industries,” said Carl J. Stewart, Jr., Chairman, NC State Ports Authority Board of Directors, “ and will help to sustain the jobs of thousands of North Carolina workers in these and related industries.”
The Port of Wilmington’s proximity to the state’s textile operations increases their competitiveness in the global market through lower inland transportation costs.
“The cost savings on inland transportation to Wilmington will be realized in the delivery of raw materials to the port for export to the North Central American zone, as well as in the return of finished goods to distribution centers in North Carolina.” said Thomas J. Eagar, Ports Authority CEO.
“Taking advantage of this new trade lane offered through the Port of Wilmington also expands the advantages of the North Carolina Ports tax credit to a broader range of importers and exporters,” said Glenn Carlson, Ports Authority vice president of business and economic development.
Maersk is the third container shipping company to begin service at the Port of Wilmington, following expansion of the container terminal. The improvements include a 42-foot navigation channel, berth reconstruction, four 100-foot gauge container cranes and a terminal operating system that allows customers to track their own containers online in and out of the port.
“The state’s investment in improving the port is paying off with new business,” Stewart added.