Ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd has included the Port of Virginia in its reworked Mediterranean Gulf Coast Express (MGX) rail service.
The MGX rail link moves cargo inland by rail to California via Virginia and the Port of Virginia is the only US East Coast stop in the rotation.
“This is an innovative decision by one of our long-time customers to take advantage of our efficiency and our rail reach into the Midwest,” said Stephen A. Edwards, CEO and Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority.
“It’s a unique service, but it is indicative of a very challenging trade environment. We welcomed the opportunity to be part of the solution for cargo owners on the West Coast.”
The service began operating in mid-April with arrival of the Synergy Antwerp at Norfolk International Terminals.
The weekly service employs eight Panamax vessels with the following rotation: Livorno – Genoa – Barcelona – Valencia – Veracruz – Altamira – Houston – Virginia – Livorno.
Edwards added that this is an important opportunity to introduce West Coast-based cargo owners and logistics companies to the Port of Virginia, which recently registered an increase in cargo volumes.
“We are investing $1.3 billion between now and 2025 to create more rail capacity, modernise and renovate two of our berths and convert them to an RMG operation (rail-mounted gantry), dredge our channels to 55 feet deep and widen them for two-way traffic of ultra-large container vessels.”
Last week, Hapag-Lloyd announced its new Turkey East Coast Express (TEX) service coming in mid May 2022.
