Israeli ocean carrier ZIM is set to
introduce its ZCP service at Leatherman Terminal, offering shippers a vital
weekly connection between Asia and the US Southeast consumer market with the
first-in-Asia call.
“The
reopening of Leatherman Terminal is a monumental day for our world-class port
system. In partnership with the ILA, employers and the greater maritime
community, we are thrilled to once again provide excellent port service at
Leatherman Terminal for the benefit of our ocean carrier and cargo owner
customers,” stated Barbara Melvin, SC Ports President and CEO.
The LNG-powered ZIM Mount Blanc, with
a capacity of 15,000 TEUs, is scheduled to arrive at Leatherman Terminal on 6
October.
“This
weekly service is the first of many to come as we resume operations at
Leatherman Terminal, providing more capacity and fluidity for the U.S. East
Coast port market. This first-in-call from Asia is a significant competitive
advantage for shippers moving goods through the Port of Charleston,” added
Melvin.
Leatherman Terminal, the newest ocean
terminal to open in the United States in over a decade, adds 700,000 TEUs of
capacity to Charleston Harbor, with the potential to reach 2.4 million TEUs at
full build-out.
The ZIM
ZCP service, operated by MSC and Maersk, provides direct calls to Charleston
along a route that includes Qingdao (China), Ningbo (China), Shanghai (China),
Busan (South Korea), Kingston (Jamaica), Savannah (United States), Norfolk
(United States), and back through Kingston, Busan, and Qingdao.