MSC to offer transatlantic service to Boston, Philadelphia

The new string is not part of MSC’s 2M alliance with Maersk.    MSC said it will offer a transatlantic service connecting North Europe with the ports of Boston and Philadelphia early this year.
   It noted its 2M vessel sharing agreement (VSA) with Maersk did not include direct services to Boston or Philadelphia.
   “These updated routes will ensure MSC offers complete coverage of North American ports, seamless continuity of service and faster transit times,” the ocean liner company said in a statement.
   MSC said it “considers it strategically important to maintain services into Boston and Philadelphia; to do so while delivering improved transit times from North Europe is a double success.”
   The shipping company lauded the state of Pennsylvania for working on an innovative solution to increase volume in Pennsylvania’s ports to the benefit of its economy.
   The port rotation of the service will be Antwerp, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Boston, Philadelphia, and Antwerp.
   Last November, the Port of Philadelphia said the 8,089-TEU MSC Judith was the largest containership to every call its Packer Marine Terminal on the Delaware River.