maritime

Shipping industry gets a boost

The U.S.-based King Ocean Shipping Services launched its operations in the Colón last month.

More than 40 shipping lines use the Canal, keeping the country’s maritime industry strong.

la prensa

shipping yards: Two container ships, each with a capacity of 640 TEUs, will arrive at the Manzanillo International Terminal in Colón as part of the King Ocean Shipping Services’ new fleet.1119463

Perhaps as a sign of Panama’s firm immunity to the global financial crisis, the country’s maritime commerce networks continue expanding. Last month, for instance, U.S.-based King Ocean Shipping Services launched its operations in the Colón, bringing with it a fleet of six ships and 27 years of experience in transporting machinery, dry goods and refrigerated cargo.

Every week, the shipping company’s fleet leaves ports in the state of Florida, following a southern course through Limón, Costa Rica before arriving at the Manzanillo International Terminal in Colón on Wednesday.

Return services include stops in the two Colombian ports of Barranquilla and Cartagena and to returning again to Limon, Costa Rica before heading back to the United States. In Cartagena, the company rendezvous with another service to transport cargo to Maracaibo, Venezuela, explained King Ocean Shipping Services manager for Panama Bradle Bingham.

Two of the company’s 640 TEU capacity container ships are also expected to arrive at the Colón terminal on a weekly basis.

In addition to the new arrival of the King Ocean company, the Manzanillo International Terminal counts among its clients the shipping services of Antillean Marine, Seafreight Lines and Altiplanic Shipping, said terminal manager Carlos Urriola.

Shipping companies that dock at the Colón terminal also pass through Port-Au-Prince, Haiti; Kingston, Jamaica, Guaranao, Venezuela; Limón, Costa Rica; Barranquilla and Cartagena, Colombia; and Miami, United States.

“These new destinations add to the range of potential markets for importers and exporters, providing additional opportunities for the lines already established in our country, and further advancing the logisitics and distribution platforms based in Panama,” added Urriola.

Besides the maritime companies with operations in Panamanian ports, upwards of 40 shipping lines transit the Panama Canal each year, moving cargo between Northeast Asian and U.S. markets.