Shipping giant MSC has announced that it is introducing changes to its GULF and SAEC string 1 service, with the insertion of an eighth vessel for a 56-day rotation.
The Port of Mobile in Alabama, will be added to the GULF service with the inaugural voyage from Veracruz taking place on 18 May onboard the MV ATHENS GLORY.
The first call to Mobile is scheduled to be on 26 May.
The new rotation of the service will be as follows:
Veracruz – Altamira – Houston – Mobile – Cristobal – Cartagena – Santos – Itapoa – Navegantes – Paranagua – Santos – Rio De Janeiro – Salvador – Cartagena – Cristobal – (Veracruz)
The Brazilian Suape Port has been removed from the rotation.
The service’s addition of Mobile will add another entry point for US-bound cargo and is thus expected to facilitate further trade across the US and South America, MSC reported.
Regardless of the operational changes, capacity will remain unaffected.
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This addition to the port rotation comes two weeks after MSC enhanced its Australia Express Service (AEX) having added a direct call at Ennore, India, on the services’ westbound leg to be operational from June 2023.
