The containership Port of Portland, Hamburg Sud on March 7 became the first vessel to call at the Port of Portland as part of a new weekly expanded service to the Mediterranean by German carrier Hamburg Süd.
“This is a big deal – especially for exporters in Oregon and throughout our region,” John Akre, the port’s terminal manager said. “This first ship represents a more frequent weekly service that will connect the Pacific Northwest and the Mediterranean with direct access to new ports in overseas markets.”
To mark the occasion, port officials boarded the vessel to meet the captain and crew, and presented a commemorative plaque.
The port says the addition of Hamburg Süd ships adds capacity while reaching new ports overseas 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 should provide a more efficient, dependable and competitive option for shippers utilizing Portland, the port says.
Hamburg Süd’s port rotation for the newly configured North America West Coast service is: Cartagena; Manzanillo, Mexico; Los Angeles; Oakland; Seattle; Vancouver USA; Portland; Oakland; Los Angeles; Manzanillo, Mexico; Manzanillo, Panama; Cartagena; Caucedo; Tangier; Valencia; Cagliari; Livorno; Genoa; Marseilles-Fos; Barcelona; Valencia; Tangier; and back to Cartagena.
