A NEW transatlantic service has begun linking the Port of Felixstowe and other northern European ports with the United States and Panama.

The weekly Americas Europe Express (AEE) service, operated by New World Alliance Lines, offers a westbound transit time of just eight days between Felixstowe and New York, and complements two existing weekly Alliance services which already call at Felxistowe.

The full AEE rotation is: Manzanillo (Panama), Charleston (US), New York, Rotterdam (Netherlands), Bremerhaven (Germany), Felixstowe (UK), New York, Charleston, and Manzanillo.

David Gledhill, chief executive of Hutchison Ports (UK) Ltd, which owns the Port of Felixstowe, said: “This new service is a great addition to those already calling at the Port of Felixstowe and further cements our position as the UK port of choice.”

“We are pleased to be able to offer our customers easy access to the most comprehensive transport infrastructure in the country whether via road, rail or coastal feeder. ”

Alliance, which consists of APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine and Mitsui OSK Lines, has deployed high-reefer-capacity ships on the new service with an average effective capacity of 3,200teu.

APL will supply three of the vessels deployed whilst HMM and MOL will contribute one each. As with the Alliance’s APX service that already calls at the Port of Felixstowe, Maersk Line will take slots. For Hyundai it marks a return to the Port of Felixstowe as a vessel operator.