Port of Gdańsk launches new transatlantic service. MSC launches direct connection to the USA
The Port of Gdańsk has joined the group of European ports with a direct container service to the United States. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world’s largest shipowner with a fleet of over 850 vessels, has expanded its Albatros service with regular calls at ports in New York and Charleston.
The first voyage under the new rotation is being made by the MSC BERANGERE, which left Gdańsk on 14 August. The weekly service follows the route: Gdańsk – Bremerhaven – New York – Charleston, with a transit time of 13 days to New York and 17 days to Charleston.
The new connection allows Polish exporters to access the American market faster and more competitively, while also providing Gdańsk with an opportunity to take over some of the volumes from Central and Eastern Europe, which until now have been handled mainly by German ports.
Baltic Hub as a regional hub
The service is operated by Baltic Hub, the largest container terminal in the Baltic Sea, with annual cargo handling exceeding 2 million TEU. The terminal plays a key role in the integration of sea, rail and road transport, which strengthens its position as a hub for Poland and the countries of the region – the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine and Lithuania.
‘The inclusion of Gdansk in the transatlantic rotation strengthens the MSC’s network between Poland and the USA. We offer weekly direct connections from Northern Europe to New York and Charleston, with full integration with our inland and logistics services’, says MSC Poland.
Trade and prospects
Exports dominate Poland’s trade with the US, representing over 80% of turnover. The most frequently transported goods are high-value items such as automotive parts, components for the aviation industry, pharmaceuticals, furniture, food and luxury goods. Energy raw materials and chemicals are also becoming increasingly important.
‘This is the first actual, direct and fastest connection with the US. Shorter delivery times will result in lower costs and a greater competitive advantage for Polish exporters’, emphasises Dominik Landa, Director of Strategy and Development at the Port of Gdańsk.
Although the volume of traffic on the transatlantic route is below that of Asia, its importance continues to grow. It is supported by, for example, LNG exports from the US to Europe and the growing imports of American agricultural products. The new MSC service is in line with this trend, as it strengthens Gdańsk’s position on the global logistics map and increases the competitiveness of Polish ports compared to the largest hubs in Northern Europe.
