Sealand Launches Central America Service from Port NOLA
Sealand, the Intra-Americas regional ocean carrier of the Maersk Group, will operate a new direct, all-water service, the Gulf Ocean Express (GOEX) service, that connects Central America, Panama and Colombia to and from the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA). The Sealand Tiger cargo vessel made its inaugural call for the GOEX service at Port NOLA Friday, 20 April.
The service will call at the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal operated by New Orleans Terminal. The service will include two Sealand vessels and one MSC vessel. “The new Central America service by Sealand strengthens the Port of New Orleans’ trading position with our partners in both Central and South America,” says Brandy D Christian, Port of New Orleans president and CEO. “We look forward to working with Sealand and MSC to ensure the service’s success.”
Sealand continues the expansion of its comprehensive Americas service network by adding US Gulf capacity. Port NOLA enables Sealand to address the needs of customers for increased volumes by connecting to major US markets and Canada via 14,500 miles of waterways, six Class I railroads and the interstate highway system. GOEX serves US export cargo out of the Gulf including resins, paper, mining and metals, and frozen meat, as well as US imports of agricultural products such as fresh fruits, forestry, automotive/transportation, chemicals, and apparel. Additionally, GOEX will serve special cargo (break bulk/out-of-gauge) out of Houston and New Orleans.
“Sealand continues to invest in the Americas to create trading and sales opportunities for our customers. Reliable transits and service options are critical to ensuring our customers’ transactions are fully supported and create further opportunities for their businesses. Sealand has built a strong reputation for service, and we’ll continue to build on our capabilities as we move forward,” says Craig Mygatt, Sealand CEO. “The GOEX service bridges every country in Latin America through either direct or connecting services. This helps support job creation and infrastructure investments in the US. Gulf region, and we are proud to be supported by the ILA as our team on the ground in the USA making it happen.
Sealand transshipment hubs in Cartagena, Columbia and Manzanillo, Mexico provide shippers with full access to Sealand’s Americas service network. The GOEX service rotation and its schedule are as follows:
• Northbound: Cartagena – Manzanillo – Puerto Cortes – Santo Tomas de Castilla – Houston – New Orleans
• Southbound: Houston – New Orleans – Puerto Cortes – Santo Tomas de Castilla – Cartagena – Manzanillo
Sealand, a division of the Maersk Group, is a regional, ocean transportation company dedicated to the Intra-Americas market and is committed to its customers and to joining businesses in the Americas on their journey to new markets and new success. Sealand has solutions that offer both small and large businesses the opportunity to grow. Sealand services customers with frequent departures on all major trade lanes and inland services for a true end-to-end experience in the Americas. Sealand’s tagline is: Vamos Juntos! “We go with you.”
The Port of New Orleans is a deep-draft multipurpose port at the center of the world’s busiest port system — Louisiana’s Lower Mississippi River. Connected to major inland markets and Canada via 14,500 miles of waterways, six Class I railroads and the interstate highway system, Port NOLA can accommodate containers and breakbulk cargo, as well as passenger cruises.