SeaLand adds call in Southern California

Maersk Group’s intra-Americas regional carrier SeaLand said its West Coast Central America service has begun including a direct call at the Port of Hueneme in Southern California.

   SeaLand, the intra-Americas regional ocean carrier of the Maersk Group, said its West Coast Central America (WCCA) service has begun including a direct call at the Port of Hueneme in California.
   The WCCA offers weekly service between Southern California, Mexico, Central America and the West Coast of South America.
   SeaLand said the Port of Hueneme, which is located north of Los Angeles, “provides additional coverage of agricultural, automotive and consumer epicenters in the U.S. Southwest and offers shippers an alternative gateway in Southern California.”
   The WCCA uses six ships with average capacity of 2,512 TEUs, according to ocean carrier scheduled and capacity database BlueWater Reporting.
   The loop operates with a rotation of Port Hueneme, Los Angeles, Ensenada, Lazaro Cardenas, Puerto Quetzal, Acajutla, Corinto, Balboa, Paita, Guayaquil, Balboa, Corinto, Acajutla, Puerto Quetzal, Lazaro Cardenas and Port Hueneme.
   SeaLand said the Port of Hueneme specializes in refrigerated cargo and is well suited for fresh fruit shipments to the U.S. Southwest from Latin America. “Fruit importers will achieve an efficient infrastructure including faster inspections and nearby cold storage facilities that specialize in fruit shipments,” SeaLand said. “The Port of Hueneme is also one hour from the Los Angeles metro area, the largest urban center on the West Coast with a population of 12.9 million, offering shippers close proximity to this important market.”
    “SeaLand brings a valuable weekly service to the port, supporting those regional customers that grow and handle fresh fruit, vegetables, dried fruit, nuts, cotton and hay,” Port of Hueneme CEO and Port Director Kristin Decas said. “Additionally, the service strengthens the port’s connections with Central and South America, our long-term target trade lanes, which promises to enhance our longstanding relationships with fresh fruit importers and exporters.”
   SeaLand CEO Craig Mygatt said, “Shipping is by far the most fuel efficient method of transporting goods and has the lowest carbon footprint, compared to trucking and air, depending on the corridors used. Port Hueneme not only is an alternative shipping option for produce that is typically trucked from Mexico. It is also a gateway for the produce center of California.”