[EN-SEA] "MSC" Launches Asia-Suez Service In Charleston

MEDITERRANEAN Shipping Company's (MSC) Golden Gate Service (GGS) has made its inaugural Charleston, South Carolina, linking the southeast's deepest port with China, southeast Asia and the Middle East.

The first vessel in the service to call Charleston was the 8,085-TEU MSC Rita, which docked at the Wando Welch Terminal.

With its low-water 45-foot shipping channel, Charleston is the deepest water south of Norfolk, which allowed the 1,065-foot-long MSC Rita, drawing 47.5 feet, to squeeze in with the harbour's 48 feet depth at high tide.

"The Port of Charleston and South Carolina are proud to welcome the GGS service and the Rita to our state," said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA), adding that the service cements last year's five-year extension with the carrier's contract, lengthening its commitment in Charleston to 2017.

"Importers and exporters across the US southeast and Gulf region will benefit from additional connections into China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and India through Charleston," he added.

The rotation is Ningbo, Shenzhen-Chiwan/Yantian, Singapore; Salalah, Oman; Suez Canal transit; New York; Baltimore; Norfolk; Charleston; Bahamas; Suez Canal transit; Jeddah, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Singapore; Shenzhen-Chiwan and Hong Kong and back to Ningbo.

The service provides a 21-day transit time outbound from Charleston to Jeddah.

The service also consolidates MSC's already strong presence in the Port of Charleston and in the local community. MSC already sends five additional ships a week to Charleston serving the western Mediterranean, South American, Caribbean, African and European trades.

In 2009 MSC dedicated its new, 13,716-square-metres south Atlantic corporate headquarters in Mount Pleasant, SC. The company employs 225 in Charleston.

Source : HKSG, 02.03.10.