Port Manatee has announced the launch of a weekly container service between its Florida port and the Port of Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz, Mexico.
Matty Appice, senior director of sales at Port Manatee said: “This is the quickest link via short sea from Mexico to any US port. It is very conducive to importing fresh fruit and vegetables, which is going to be the biggest part of the service.”
Beginning on October 28, 2014, the service between Port Manatee and the Port of Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz will take approximately two and a half days, significantly cutting the transit time to the US East Coast.
According to Carlos Diaz, business director of World Direct Shipping, the company providing the weekly service: “Port Manatee’s proximity to Mexico is ideal for this service. This new fast connection will offer reduced costs and enhanced delivery of a fresher product to consumers east of the Mississippi River.”
The new service will run alongside Port Manatee’s existing container service, which exclusively serves global fruit and vegetable producer Fresh Del Monte, and North American melon distributor Fresh Quest.
