GT USA adds warehouse capacity at Port Canaveral

Gulftainer USA leased a 40,000-square-foot warehouse from Port Canaveral near its new container terminal that opened in June 2015.

   Gulftainer USA (GT USA) has leased a 40,000-square-foot warehouse from Port Canaveral near its new container terminal to meet the needs of current and future customers with import and export consolidation and deconsolidation, the company said.
   The Port Canaveral Authority granted GT USA a 35-year concession to operate and invest in the new container terminal, which opened in June 2015.
   GT USA’s warehouse will offer cross docking, storage, inventory control and last-mile distribution, with about a 45-minute drive to the Orlando area. It features three drive-in doors, six loading docks and new paving. In addition, the warehouse is in the process of becoming bonded for customs purposes.
   GT USA partnered with Avalon Wheeler Freight Services to manage and operate the warehouse. Avalon will also use the facility for domestic cargo.
   In January, GT USA secured the new container terminal’s first customer, Streamlines, N.V., part of the Dutch Seatrade Group. The carrier began calling the Central Florida port on a weekly basis with its Blue Stream Service. According to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting, the loop has a rotation of Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Tilbury, United Kingdom; Rouen, France; Pointe-a Pitre, Guadeloupe; Fort-de-France, Martinique; St. Maarten; Moin Bay, Costa Rica; Puerto Barrios, Guatemala; Puerto Cortes, Honduras; Port Canaveral and Rotterdam. It operates with five vessels with an average capacity of 1,413 TEUs.
   Through August, GT USA has handled under 5,000 TEUs, Commercial Manager Joe Cruise said in a phone interview. He said Streamlines is anticipating a productive melon season out of Central America that should boost cargo volumes in the coming months.
   Port Canaveral and GT USA are trying to open a new niche for fast service to Central America, but are flanked by large container ports in Jacksonville and South Florida.