Hapag-Lloyd has revised its service portfolio between the Mediterranean and the United States in an effort to increase consistency and reduce transit times.
Firstly, the German shipping company has unveiled plans for a new reliable connection between the Mediterranean and the US West Coast by rail via Norfolk, which will initially be focused on dry containers and is expected to replace the existing Mediterranean Pacific service (MPS).
Additionally, Hapag-Lloyd will launch an updated Mediterranean Gulf Express (MGX) service with effect from 13 April 2022 to include a call in Norfolk for connecting cargo from/to Los Angeles and Oakland by rail.
The MGX rotation will be gradually adjusted to be fully focused on the traffic between the Mediterranean and Mexico, Houston, US West Coast, according to a statement.
Particularly, the MGX service rotation will be the following:
Livorno (Italy) – Genoa (Italy) – Barcelona (Spain) – Valencia (Spain) – Veracruz (Mexico) – Altamira (Mexico) – Houston (Texas) – Norfolk (Virginia) – Livorno (Italy)
The first sailing of the updated MGX service will be Fos Express on 01W15 / 01E18, with an estimated time of departure from the Italian port of Livorno on 13 April, and an estimated time of arrival in Veracruz, Mexico on 5 May.
Hapag-Lloyd noted that a new service will be established for cargo previously carried by the previous MPS and MGX services to and from Caribbean ports.
The last sailings of the current MPS service will be Tokyo Express on 21W12 and Seoul Express on 27E12.
