Crowley to offer new U.S.-Central America service in November

The Florida-based shipping and logistics company will launch its new Northern Service for cargoes between the Port of Wilmington, Guatemala and Honduras this month.    Crowley will launch a weekly, full and less-than-container-load (LCL) shipping and logistics service offering between the Port of Wilmington, Guatemala and Honduras staring in November, the North Carolina State Ports Authority (NC Ports) announced Friday.
   According to NC Ports, the service makes the Port of Wilmington the northernmost Atlantic Coast destination for cargo, particularly textiles and apparel, entering the United States from Central America. Crowley said the new lift-on/lift-off (lo-lo) service is designed to give customers an additional, more northwardly Atlantic Coast destination, adding flexibility to the supply chain while reducing total landed costs.
   The port authority did not specify which ports of call would be utilized in Guatemala and Honduras.
   “Adding this new port of entry as an option for our customers is part of our overall strategy to offer customizable and complete supply chain solutions,” said Frank Larkin, senior vice president and general manager, logistics services at Crowley. “We offer reliable and scalable transportation and logistics solutions with a single point of accountability.”
   In addition, NC Ports has ordered three new ultra-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes from Shanghai Zhenjua Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (ZPMC). In combination with the new cranes, a turning basin expansion project, berth improvements, and the expansion of the container yard, North Carolina Ports expects to inject $200 million into its infrastructure over the next two and a half years, the port authority said.
   “The addition of Crowley to North Carolina Ports opens new avenues to the customers of the Carolinas and surrounding regions. Crowley is well recognized among the leaders in the industry and we look forward to continuing to serve the customers in North Carolina in new and innovative ways with this service,” said Greg Fennell, chief commercial officer at NC Ports.
   According to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting, Crowley operates 10 liner services in the Central American, Caribbean and South American trade lanes. The carrier also purchases slots on five additional services in these regions operated by King Ocean, Caribbean Feeder and Antillean Marine.