Canada’s Prince Rupert Port Authority welcomed Columbine Maersk at the Fairview Container Terminal on October 8th, the second boxship to call at the port within a new weekly service operated by the 2M Alliance. The 2M Alliance of Mediterranean Shipping Company and Maersk Line (a unit of Copenhagen-based A.P. Moller-Maersk Group) has added the Port of Prince Rupert as the first North American port of call to its amended TP8 transpacific service. The service made its first call in Prince Rupert seven days ago when the MSC Rania berthed at the Fairview Terminal.
The addition of this containerized cargo service expands the reach of Asia-North American trade through the Port of Prince Rupert to new markets and shippers, supporting further growth and expansion of the west coast’s leading edge gateway.
“The addition of the 2M Alliance as a dedicated marine carrier service is another milestone in the unprecedented growth we’ve achieved at Fairview Container Terminal since it began operation in 2007,” said Don Krusel, President and CEO of the Prince Rupert Port Authority.
“This new service is a validation of the advantages our port has brought to transpacific trade, and we look forward to building relationships with MSC and Maersk—and the many new customers that will benefit from the supply chain solution offered through our gateway.”
Prince Rupert is the closest major North American port to Asia with direct access to CN’s Class 1 continental rail network. Since its conversion from a breakbulk handling operation, the Fairview Container Terminal has provided an extensive reach into both central Canada and the U.S. Midwest.
Fairview Container Terminal has a current annual capacity of 850,000 TEUs, and a recently-announced second phase of the expansion project will bring capacity to 1.35 million TEUs. The ongoing expansion project is expected to be finished by mid-2017.
Images: Prince Rupert Port