Gulf Express Service News

Two new maritime lines are launched from Hamad Port which will enhance Qatar’s trade connections with various ports in China, India, Malaysia, Turkey and Greece, among other countries. Qatar News Agency (QNA)  said that both lines will run on a weekly basis. The first line starts in the Mediterranean and will be serviced by with four ships, with a total capacity of 6,000 containers including 400 reefer containers. The China Gulf Express Service will connect Shanghai in China with Hamad Port, with designated stops at Ningbo (China), Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Xiamen (China), Shekou (China) and Port Klang (Malaysia) en route to Qatar. A single ship will ply this route and have a capacity of 6,000 containers, including 400 reefer containers, according to the MoTC.

APL today announced the launch of the Atlantic Gulf Express (AGX) Service – a direct Trans-Atlantic service which connects the key markets of North Europe, US South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. “Directly connecting the Port of Le Havre and Miami, the new AGX service will serve as a unique and market-leading Trans-Atlantic service that enables shipments across the US East Coast, North Europe and Mexico markets. It promises industry-leading transit time between Europe and major US South Atlantic ports, and fast connections between the US South Atlantic, US Gulf and Mexico markets that serve the needs of the customers,” said Eric Eng, APL Head of the Trans-Atlantic Trade.

Horizon Lines, Inc., (NYSE:HRZ), announced that it will add regularly scheduled vessel container service between Tampa, Florida and Puerto Rico. A vessel call at the Port of Tampa will be added to the carrier's Gulf Express Service (GAX), currently operating a fixed-day, bi-weekly schedule between Houston, Texas and San Juan. The Tampa service is scheduled to commence with the arrival of the Horizon Discovery on October 4. The Tampa call is expected to begin contributing to the company's earnings within the first few months of service. The expanded biweekly Gulf Express port rotation will be Houston, Tampa, San Juan. The Gulf Express complements the carrier's direct U.S. east coast Puerto Rico services offered from Jacksonville (twice weekly) and Elizabeth, N.J. (once weekly).