A containership known as the Cap Cleveland received a warm welcome as representatives from the Port and terminal operator ICTSI Oregon, Inc. recognized the first Portland call for German carrier Hamburg Süd on Wednesday, March 7.
Adding the carrier to Portland’s international container carrier lineup is part of a newly expanded weekly service to the Mediterranean offered in partnership with Hapag-Lloyd. Officials boarded the vessel to meet the captain and crew, where they presented a ceremonial plaque commemorating the special occasion. Longshore workers discharged imports and loaded export containers all day before the ship departed the Columbia River. The vessel was bound for ports in Central and South America and continuing on to Africa and Europe.
“This is a big deal – especially for exporters in Oregon and throughout our region,” said John Akre, terminal manager for the Port of Portland. “This first ship represents a more frequent service that will connect the Pacific Northwest and the Mediterranean with direct access to ports in overseas markets.”
The addition of Hamburg Süd ships adds capacity while reaching new ports through direct and feeder connections including the Far East, Middle East, Indian Ocean, Latin America and West Africa. By bringing more ships to Portland and improving the regularity of the calls, the service will provide a more efficient, dependable and competitive option for shippers utilizing the Port.
When the improved service was announced in February, Lee Goodwin, manager, international transportation for Boise Inc. indicated that it would significantly increase his company’s volumes out of Portland. “Using this enhanced weekly service will improve efficiency, cost savings and flexibility in our schedules,” said Goodwin.
The port rotation for the newly configured North America West Coast service is: Cartagena, Manzanillo (Mexico), Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, Vancouver, Portland, Oakland, Los Angeles, Manzanillo (Mexico), Manzanillo (Panama), Cartagena, Caucedo, Tangier, Valencia, Cagliari, Livorno, Genoa, Marseilles-Fos, Barcelona, Valencia, Tangier and back to Cartagena.
