The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) has announced that the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has begun a new direct weekly service between Jacksonville’s Talleyrand Marine Terminal and the Central American ports of Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala and Puerto Cortez, Honduras. The revised route allows JAXPORT to offer improved transit times for customers looking to reach these important markets more efficiently.

Guatemala and Honduras are part of the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) with the United States. Among the principal commodities these nations trade with the U.S. are agricultural products such as bananas, vegetables, coffee and shrimp, and textiles, garments and minerals. Guatemala and Honduras are also significant export markets for U.S. products such as agricultural machinery, chemicals, building materials and general consumer merchandise.

“MSC’s move emphasizes JAXPORT’s growing role in the efficient movement of goods between the U.S. and Central America,” said JAXPORT CEO Paul Anderson. “More importantly, the change underscores the shift that’s taking place as shippers and cargo owners recognize the efficiencies that JAXPORT offers and respond to the opportunities they find here.”

The new service will also allow JAXPORT customers to reach global markets via MSC’s transshipment hub in Freeport, Bahamas.

The vision of the Jacksonville Port Authority is to be a major economic engine for Northeast Florida by continuing to be a premier diversified port in the Southeastern United States with connections to major trade lanes throughout the world.