The Port of Baltimore will service a new Asian container service through Southeast Asia/Vietnam and China with the launch of a new A.P. Moller Maersk (Maersk) line.
This Transpacific/Panama Canal service will begin in July with the first ships arriving in Baltimore in late August.
The service will include a string of up to 13 ships with carrying capacities of 4,500-plus TEU.
Vessels in Maersk’s new TP20 Loop service will originate in the Port of Vung Tao, Vietnam, head north to the ports of Ningbo-Zhoushan, China and Shanghai, China and then sail through the Panama Canal discharging goods in Norfolk and Baltimore – the only two U.S. ports in this service string.
The new service will arrive at the Port’s Seagirt Marine Terminal, which is managed by Ports America Chesapeake under the public-private partnership with The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA).
MDOT MPA Executive Director William P. Doyle commented, “The new Maersk service will help commerce move through Maryland across the country and around the globe.
“The Port of Baltimore’s incredible e-commerce abilities, combined with the number of local distribution, fulfilment and sorting centres, make us very attractive to beneficial cargo owners.”
The service reflects a need for more cargo gateways in the United States, as port congestion is at an all-time high.
The Port of Baltimore has served 22 ad-hoc ships since July 2020, totalling more than 35,000 TEU.
The Port’s container business is getting a lift with the ongoing project to expand capacity to serve ultra-large vessels.
Dredging is complete for a second, 50-foot-deep berth at the Seagirt Marine Terminal, and four additional Neo-Panamax cranes arriving summer 2021 will be operational by the end of the year.
MDOT Secretary Greg Slater, added, “As the worldwide economy recovers from the pandemic, the maritime industry has seen the Port of Baltimore’s leadership, reliability, and efficiency.
“The industry also has seen Maryland’s commitment to invest in port infrastructure. Our port is ready to serve the industry and consumers today, and will be a leader well into the future.”
