APL and MOL strengthen Latin America Services

Container transportation providers APL and MOL today announced improvements to the three Latin America services on which the two companies cooperate and share vessels.

With the new enhancements, customers will now have the advantage of weekly, fixed-day service to and from the North Caribbean, as well as faster transit times and increased capacity between key North American and Latin America markets. Connections between Latin America and Asia will also be improved.

The three fixed-day, weekly services are the Manaus (CX-1) Service, linking Manaus with Panama; the Gulf Express (GEX) serving the gulf coasts of the United States and Mexico; and the North Caribbean Service (NCA), all three of which are being upgraded. The improvements are currently being phased in.

"These changes are consistent with our desire to meet our customers' service and space demands, while at the same time maximizing cost efficiencies for all parties," said Manny Fernandez, APL's Vice President, Latin America and Frank Masi, MOL's Vice President, Trade Services, in a joint statement.

Service Highlights:

- Manaus (CX-1) Service -- Utilizing three larger and faster vessels rather than four smaller ships, the improved service provides a faster transit and additional capacity for the growing trade in electronics and other products with both Asia and North America.
The port rotation is Panama (Manzanillo/MIT); Puerto Cabello, Venezuela; Manaus, Brazil; Puerto Cabello, Venezuela; and Panama. Additionally, the service will offer two calls at Belem, Brazil every 21 days.
- Gulf Express (GEX) Service -- This service has been expanded to include calls at La Guaira, Venezuela and at Rio Haina in the Dominican Republic.
The service calls at Houston, Texas; Altamira, Mexico; Veracruz, Mexico, Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Panama (Manzanillo/MIT); Cartagena, Colombia; Puerto Cabello, Venezuela; La Guaira, Venezuela; Rio Haina, Dominican Republic; returning to Houston.
- North Caribbean (NCA) Service -- The addition of a second vessel enables the service to add calls at La Guaira and Puerto Sucre, Venezuela and increases the frequency of direct service from Asia to Venezuela to a weekly basis from fortnightly.
The rotation will be Panama (Manzanillo/MIT); Cartagena, Colombia; La Guaira, Venezuela; Puerto Sucre, Venezuela; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Rio Haina, Dominican Republic; Panama (Manzanillo/MIT); Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, returning to Panama.