Columbia Coastal adds Philly call, increases frequency

   Columbia Coastal Transport is improving its coastal container-on-barge service between Norfolk, Va., and Baltimore by doubling the frequency of service to two sailings per week and adding a weekly call in Philadelphia.
   “We want to provide our customers with more flexibility in these ports by increasing weekly sailings and expanding service into Philadelphia,” said Bruce Fenimore, president and chief executive officer of the Columbia Group of Cos. “By utilizing our green all-water alternative, we can improve highway safety by taking more trucks off the road, lessen emissions, and reduce the carbon footprint in the areas we serve, all expressed goals of the Marine Highway Program.”
   The company’s largest barge, the 912-TEU Columbia Elizabeth, will be used in the new tri-port rotation.
   The new expanded service will have the rotation of Sunday-Norfolk; Monday-Baltimore, Tuesday/Wednesday-Norfolk, Thursday-Baltimore, Friday-Philadelphia, and Sunday-Norfolk.
   Columbia Coastal has offered container feeder service since 1990. The group also provides logistics, trucking, container and chassis repair, and warehousing to complement its carrier operations.