The Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT), has expanded its trade connections to the Americas. The terminal recently welcomed the inaugural call of Mediterranean Shipping Company’s (MSC) new Eagle service with the arrival of the 2,556-TEU vessel Etoile on February 3.
This standalone service establishes a direct link between Australia, New Zealand, and major ports on the U.S. East Coast, such as Philadelphia and Savannah. Operating through a hub-and-spoke network in Panama, the service includes stops at Rodman and Cristobal, facilitating further access to markets in Europe, the U.S. Gulf, and Central and South America. The weekly rotation utilizes 11 vessels with capacities between 2,500 and 4,500 TEUs.
The Eagle service provides cargo owners and logistics providers with a streamlined routing option that features fewer handling points than traditional multi-leg transshipment methods. This structure is intended to improve supply chain flexibility and transit predictability. By calling at VICT, the service utilizes the terminal’s landside connectivity to reach production and consumption centers throughout Victoria and southern Australia.
“MSC’s decision to include VICT in the Eagle service reflects confidence in our operational capability and alignment with customer priorities around reliability and efficiency. The service broadens access to the Americas for our customers while reinforcing Melbourne’s integration into key international trade lanes,” said Bruno Porchietto, Chief Executive Officer at VICT.
The new service is expected to benefit Victoria’s primary producers, particularly those dealing in perishables and cold-chain exports. Vessels like the Etoile offer significant reefer capacity, which, combined with the terminal’s automated handling and ship-to-shore efficiency, helps minimize dwell time for time-sensitive goods.
