Shipco adds Eastern, Central Europe direct services

Shipco adds Eastern, Central Europe direct services    Neutral non-vessel-operating common carrier Shipco Transport has started direct 'intact' weekly consolidation services connecting the U.S. market with Eastern and Central Europe.
   The NVO said these emerging markets have undergone rapid growth, calling for shorter shipping transits and less 'hubbing.' Shipco will coordinate this service with WorldWide Alliance member and partner SSL Consolidation.
   Anticipating a steady growth, Shipco will initiate four direct services to the region in April. The new services will cover Basel, Prague, Vienna and Budapest with further expansion expected to Bucharest, Sofia and St. Petersburg during the third quarter. Existing Shipco services to the region cover Tallinn, Gdynia, Istanbul and Koper.
   'Where services into this market typically move via hubs, Shipco's direct services open up new markets and on-carriage opportunities to hundreds of inland points including Constanza, Salzburg, Ostrava and Zurich,' the NVO said. 'Existing transits will improve and allow for a more competitive solution for customers.'
   Shipco is a subsidiary of Scan-Group, an international shipping and transportation company based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Scan-Group has more than 1,500 employees worldwide.