Cosco is adding Prince Rupert to the shipping line's existing CEN service, doubling its weekly calls, beginning with the 5,400 TEU Cosco Hong Kong on July 5.
"This new northern express trade corridor through Prince Rupert is meeting and exceeding expectations," said Cosco Americas vice president Tim Marsh.
"Cosco has received tremendous support on the single weekly sailings over Prince Rupert for the PNWS service, calling on South China and Yokohama," he said. "As a result, Cosco has increased port calls to Prince Rupert."
The CEN service, comprised of five container vessels ranging from 5,400 to 8,200 TEU, also calls on Yokohama before completing its loop back in Dalian.
The CEN service rotation will be Xingang, Qingdao and Shanghai, Prince Rupert, Long Beach and Oakland.
Throughput at Prince Rupert increased year on year by 40 per cent in the first quarter. Total tonnage for the first three months was 3.1 million metric tonnes, up from 2.2 million tonnes last year.
"The surge continues an impressive upward trend following a strong 2007, which surpassed 10 million tonnes. The 2007 total volume cargo of 10.6 million tonnes is a 36.8 per cent increase over 2006 and a 237 per cent jump over 2005," said a port statement.
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