Ocean carrier World Direct Shipping is doubling its service across the Gulf of Mexico between the state of Veracruz and Central Florida’s Port Manatee.
World Direct Shipping has announced plans to add a weekly sailing to Port Manatee from the Port of Tuxpan, in the north-central portion of Veracruz, to augment the successful service it has operated each week since November 2014 to Port Manatee from Coatzacoalcos, in southern Veracruz. The first sailing from Tuxpan is scheduled for Jan. 12.
Tuxpan is the closest commercial port to Mexico City, situated 180 miles northeast of the Mexican capital, and is proximate to Mexican paper processing centers, which, according to Diaz, should provide opportunities for more paper exports from Port Manatee in addition to greater imports of Mexican fruits, vegetables and juices.
World Direct Shipping looks to shift the 430-foot-long M/V Queen B to the Tuxpan service from the Coatzacoalcos service in which it had been operating while deploying the 413-foot-long M/V Pafilia on the Coatzacoalcos route. The schedule calls for Friday departures from Tuxpan, with arrivals at Port Manatee on Mondays, while the sailings from Coatzacoalcos are to continue on Saturdays, with Tuesday arrivals at Port Manatee.
World Direct Shipping, which in April extended its agreement with Port Manatee through the end of 2019, with options for two more years, also announced that it has lengthened its pact with Federal Marine Terminals, which will work both vessels at Port Manatee.
Located “Where Tampa Bay Meets the Gulf of Mexico,” Port Manatee is the closest U.S. deepwater seaport to the expanded Panama Canal, with 10 40-foot-draft berths serving container, bulk, breakbulk, heavylift, project and general cargo customers. The port generates more than $2.3 billion in annual economic impact for the local community, while supporting more than 24,000 jobs, without levying ad-valorem taxes.