Global Marine Terminals (GCT) hosted the arrival of its first 14,000 TEU class ship to be operated in the east coast service (EC4) by “The Alliance” consortium of carriers, the company said in its press release.
“The Alliance” is comprised of member carriers Hapag Lloyd (Germany), Yang Ming Lines (Taiwan), and the three Japanese carriers: NYK, K-Line, and MOL.
The “Malik Al-Ashtar,” registered in Malta, is the first of four new ships added by Hapag Lloyd to serve the trade from South China, Taiwan, and Vietnam via the Suez Canal. Later in the spring, K-Line will contribute another seven 14,000 TEU ships to the service.
GCT will be the first port of call inbound, and then, after the ships transit coast-wise, will make a second call outbound at GCT before heading back to Singapore via the Suez Canal.
Given the double-call at the Port, this service can be marketed for both imports and exports. In addition, all of the new ships will enroll in the Port’s Clean Vessel Initiative.
“The Alliance” partners are planning to move additional intermodal cargo via ExpressRail at Greenville, scheduled to be operational in the 4th quarter of 2018.