FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PORTLAND,
ORE. (FEB. 2, 2012) – New
Ships and Weekly Service Connecting Portland and the Mediterranean
The Port of Portland and ICTSI Oregon, Inc. are welcoming
a newly expanded containership service offered by Hapag-Lloyd and Hamburg Süd,
starting on February 8. This will connect the Pacific Northwest and the
Mediterranean with direct calls and fixed-day weekly service. It will also
offer feeder connections to the Far East, Middle East, Indian Ocean, Latin
America and West Africa.
By bringing more ships to Terminal 6 and improving the
regularity of the calls, the service will provide a more efficient, dependable
and competitive option for shippers utilizing the Port of Portland. The
addition of Hamburg Süd ships in March will add capacity while reaching new
ports overseas.
“This
comes as very good news, and it will significantly increase our volumes out of
Portland,” said Lee Goodwin, manager, international transportation for Boise
Inc. “Using this enhanced weekly service will improve efficency, cost savings
and flexibility in our schedules.” Boise Inc. exports containerized paper
products from Pacific Northwest mills through Terminal 6 at the Port of
Portland.
The
port rotation for the newly configured North America West Coast service will
be: Cartagena, Manzanillo (Mexico), Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, Vancouver,
Portland, Oakland, Los Angeles, Manzanillo (Mexico), Manzanillo (Panama),
Cartagena, Caucedo, Tangier, Valencia, Cagliari, Livorno, Genoa,
Marseilles-Fos, Barcelona, Valencia, Tangier and back to Cartagena.
“Portland offers a strong import and export market with a
newly deepened navigation channel and excellent intermodal rail, truck and
barge connections,” said David Trzyzewski, vice president of sales and
marketing for ICTSI Oregon, Inc.
ICTSI Oregon, Inc. operates the container terminal under a
25-year lease with the Port of Portland. Parent company International Container
Terminal Services, Inc. operates 22 container terminals and port projects in 17
countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. Portland marks
the company’s first entry into the U.S. market.
“Portland is well connected with Ports worldwide through a
modern container terminal operated by ICTSI Oregon, Inc. – a top global
stevedoring and terminal operating company,” added Steve
Mickelson, marine marketing manager for the Port of Portland.
In the first
year since assuming operations, container volumes grew by 9 percent to nearly
200,000 TEU (twenty foot equivalent units) in 2011. Over the course of the year
full import containers improved by 5 percent. Full export containers grew by 27
percent, representing a jump in demand for regional products heading to
overseas buyers.
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About the Port of Portland
Established in 1891 by the Oregon Legislature, the Port of
Portland owns four marine terminals, three airports (Portland International,
Hillsboro, and Troutdale) and five industrial parks. The mission of the Port is
to enhance the region's economy and quality of life by providing efficient
cargo and air passenger access to national and global markets.