The 2M Alliance, comprised of Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co., recently announced the launch of a new service, the Lone Star Express, between Asia and the United States Gulf and East Coasts which includes a weekly rotation at PortMiami.

The Lone Star Express will start operations on May 2 using container vessels with a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 TEU.  The string includes the ports of Qingdao, Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen, Yantian, Busan, Cristobal, Houston, Mobile, Miami, Balboa, and Busan.

PortMiami has been steadily capturing new trade, noted a report recently released by the port. It posted its strongest container traffic in a decade with a total of over one-million TEU during the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, 2015, an increase of 15 percent. Miami was recently ranked among the fastest-growing seaports in the nation. In January alone cargo moves increased approximately 20 percent over January 2015.

Miami officials attribute this continued growth to the more than $1 billion of infrastructure investments made in port facilities. With the deepest shipping channel in the southeast U.S., PortMiami is the only seaport south of Virginia capable of handling neo-panamax vessels.  Miami also offers its users a fast access tunnel connecting the port directly to the U.S. Interstate Highway System as well as the Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) on-dock intermodal rail service, providing rapid turnaround time for the movement of both import and export goods while delivering a seamless network reaching 70 percent of the U.S. market within four days.

“We welcome the Lone Star Express to PortMiami”, said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “Ocean carriers and shippers are considering the advantages of using PortMiami, its excellent geographical location, vital infrastructure, solid and reliable partnerships, and a port team committed to serving its customers at the highest level of standards.”

“We thank the 2M Alliance for their confidence in PortMiami,” added Port Director and CEO Juan M. Kuryla.  “The new service is a major enhancement to the port’s cargo offerings, reinforcing its position as a leading hub for global commerce between Asia and the United States.  We look forward to the arrival of the Lone Star Express.”