Oceanus Line is based in Coral Gables, Florida, is entering the Gulf market, with its Florida Gulf Express (FGX) service, which started in the last week of March.
With inaugural calls on 26 March and 29 March, respectively, at SeaPort Manatee and Port Freeport, Oceanus Line’s 1,740 teu-X-Press Cotopaxi, launched import and export opportunities via a pair of fast-growing, uncongested US Gulf gateways, with inland rail and truck reach encompassing Southeast, Northeast, Southwest and Midwest markets.
Oceanus Line’s FGX service, initially fortnightly , operates counter-clockwise from Cartagena, Colombia, to SeaPort Manatee, then across the Gulf of Mexico to Port Freeport, before heading south to Veracruz, Mexico, and returning to Cartagena. On the inaugural voyage, the vessel called at the Mexican port of Tuxpan on its way north from Colombia.
“Fast transit times and personalised customer service make it swifter and easier to ship containerised and breakbulk cargos between the United States, Mexico and Colombia,” said Hans C. Schriwer, CEO of Oceanus Line.
“This new service further expands connectivity between major Latin American trade partners and Southwest and Central Florida’s vibrant hub of maritime commerce,” commented Carlos Buqueras, Executive Director of SeaPort Manatee.
Port Freeport’s Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Phyllis Saathoff, noted initiation of the Oceanus Line service is well-timed with planned midyear opening of Port Freeport’s newest deep-water berth, adding, “Port Freeport is delighted to welcome its first direct container service with Mexico while resuming its connection with Colombia.”
SeaPort Manatee, the closest US deep-water seaport to the expanded Panama Canal, offers 10 deep-draught berths, proficiently fulfilling diverse demands of container, liquid and dry bulk, breakbulk, heavy lift, project and general cargo customers.
Port Freeport is a leading port in the export of crude oil and natural gas liquids, ranked sixth in the United States in chemicals and 11th for total foreign waterborne tonnage, while ranking 26th in containerised cargo.
Source: seatrade maritime
