Hapag slows GCS loop

   The ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd has added a fourth vessel to its weekly U.S. Gulf and Mexico to Central America, north coast South America, and the Caribbean GCS service and increased roundtrip voyage time from 21 days to 28 days. 
   Transit times southbound from the United States and Mexico to Central America on the GCS have increased by about seven days, now taking 15 days between Houston, Texas and Manzanillo, Panama. Northbound transit remains roughly the same, taking 12 days on the return. 
   The rotation of the GCS remains Houston, Altamira, Veracruz, Santo Tomas, Puerto Cortes, Puerto Limon, Manzanillo (Panama), Cartagena, Caucedo, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Houston. The service is currently operated by four Hapag-Lloyd vessels with an average capacity of 2,178 TEUs. 
   In addition to the GCS, Hapag operates one other direct weekly service between the U.S. Gulf coast, Mexico, and the Caribbean, its joint GS1 service with partner CSAV and slot-buyers Libra-Montemar, Maersk Line, and NYK, which calls at Caucedo to and from Veracruz, Altamira, Houston, and New Orleans en route to the east coast of South America.
   Hapag also offers several other services which connect Manzanillo (Panama) with various ports on the U.S. East and West coasts and Mexico. – ComPair Data, Ben Meyer