World Direct Shipping will arrange a weekly container shuttle between Florida and Veracruz.
On Oct. 28, World Direct Shipping will introduce a direct, weekly ocean service for refrigerated produce and other goods between Florida’s Port Manatee and Port Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, the Manatee port authority said.
The 2.5-day transit time will enable quick delivery of perishable items to consumers in the eastern half of the United States, it said.
Port Manatee is located south of Tampa on the western side of Florida. Coatzacoalcos is in the southern part of the Mexican state of Veracruz.
The service will be provided by an 862-TEU vessel equipped with 204 electric plugs for refrigerated containers.
Produce expected to be carried includes pineapples, avocados, limes, mangos and bananas. Other cargo will include machinery, vehicles, lumber, paper products, juice concentrates, sugar and beer.
Port Tampa Bay is also trying to attract more perishable business from Central and South America.
Reefer service to start between Port Manatee and Mexico
