Maersk launches Europe/Mexico service

Maersk launches Europe/Mexico service    Maersk said it is launching a direct weekly service between North Europe and the East Coast of Mexico, making the pitch that the absence of an intermediary U.S. port call “will save the exporters hassle of the country's stringent regulations for customs clearance.”
   “Maersk Line has no intentions of avoiding the U.S. in general. However, in this case we want to distinct ourselves from our competitors by being a dedicated Mexico service,” said Rasmus Hansen, a Maersk spokesman. “We believe that our customers will benefit from not having to comply with the 24 hours AMS filings, risk of cargo being held back by customs, etc.”
   Chris Koch, president of the World Shipping Council, said that after the 24-hour rule was first enacted in 2002, some other services to the Caribbean or Central America with minor amounts of cargo to the U.S. also dropped calls.
   Maersk said the “CRX” service will offer weekly calls using six ships, each with capacity of about 2,500 TEUs and offer a 14-day sailing time from Bremerhaven to Veracruz. Rotation is Rotterdam, Tilbury, Bremerhaven, Veracruz, Altamira, Manzanillo in Panama, Puerto Moin in Costa Rica and Rotterdam.
   “This will help European exporters of paper, chemicals or automotive products reach their Mexican destinations faster,” the Danish carrier said. It also highlighted its ability to carry out-of-gauge cargo such as heavy machinery, trucks and buses, and said it would deploy its StarCare controlled atmosphere reefer containers for exporters of fresh fruit from Mexico such as mangoes and avocados. It said fruit loaded at Altamira in Mexico will reach Rotterdam in Europe in 20 days.
   'Over the past several years many of our customers have expressed their interest in Maersk Line being able to offer a service connecting the Mexican Gulf to the world,' said Erik Bo Hansen, managing director for “Middle America cluster” at Maersk Line. “They see this as plugging a major hole in Maersk Line’s service portfolio while offering increased options in this important and growing trade.”
   Maersk said Veracruz and Altamira account for more than 35 percent of the total Mexican containerized transport market.