Box volumes at Seattle, New Orleans keep rising

The port of Seattle broke its cargo volume record in 2010, reporting more than 2.1 million TEUs, surpassing the previous high in 2005 of 2.08 million TEUs, according to a Lloyd Special Report.


Several factors contributed to the increase in container volume. Exports remained strong throughout 2010, and other factors like the addition of Maersk/CMA CGMcontainer ships, increases in the sizes of ships calling at the port, and its “fee free’’ policies at the terminals contributed to the record success.


Container volumes at the port of New Orleans rose 31 percent last year, compared to 2009. The Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal handled 426,091 TEUs, compared to 325,857 the previous year.


“These gains are attributed to a strong export market and the result of non-traditional cargoes, such as steel products and grain, now moving by container,” LaGrange said. The Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal is served by Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, Seaboard Marine and CSAV.
(Source:http://www.cargonewsasia.com)