JOC Staff | Oct 03, 2013
National Shipping of America has expanded its Isla Verde Express service with the addition of a southbound call at Port Everglades in Florida.
The expansion provides a connection between the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico with a two-day transit time. Previously, the service, which was launched earlier this year, offered a direct route between Houston and San Juan, Puerto Rico, on a fortnightly basis. The port rotation now is Houston, Port Everglades, San Juan and back to Houston. The addition of the Port Everglades call does not impact southbound transit times between Houston and San Juan, according to the container line.
NSA employs the National Glory, a U.S.-flag container ship of 570 20-foot-equivalent units, including 96 plugs for refrigerated containers, on the IVE service. The vessel will arrive at the Seafreight Terminal in Port Everglades on Oct. 5, and depart the next day, arriving in San Juan on Oct. 9.
“The addition of Port Everglades provides U.S. shippers with the fastest transit to Puerto Rico,” said Torey Presti, president of NSA, in a written statement. “For an island economy, a shorter transit time has huge benefits, especially for refrigerated cargo and other foodstuffs.”
“This is the first U.S.-flag continental coastal service from the Texas Gulf to Port Everglades that we have had in many years, and we welcome the additional service,” added Steven Cernak, Port Everglades’ chief executive and port director.
