Maritime companies share space on E. Coast/Central America route
Two sea cargo companies that entered into a vessel sharing agreement say Central American fruit and vegetables headed to the Port Everglades could arrive sooner.
King Ocean also is sailing from Port Everglades to Costa Rica through the agreement, because it allows for alternating ships with Crowley each week to the country.
King Ocean Services Ltd., and Crowley Caribbean Services LLC announced the agreement in early August. Crowley can charter space to King Ocean on vessels going from the East Coast to Trinidad and King Ocean can do the same for Crowley on ships from the East Coast to St. Lucia and Barbados. At that same time, both companies can use space on empty containers making the trips back to the U.S.
“This new agreement saves our customers time, at least by one full day, because we now have direct service to Port Everglades from Costa Rica and Panama instead of stopping in Miami first,” King Ocean’s president and CEO Franco Da Costa Gomez in a news release.
Pineapples and melons are among the top refrigerated imports at Port Everglades. About 37% of all international trade at the port is from Central American countries, according to the release.
