Maersk, the world's largest container line, is starting a weekly service between the US and Peru.
The Spondylus route will include weekend arrivals, which it is hoped will allow for Monday-morning cargo availability and on-site inspections by the US Department of Agriculture.
Going north, Spondylus will start from Paita, Peru, stop at Guayaquil, Balboa, Miami and Newark, before terminating 12 days later in Philadelphia.
The southbound service starts from Newark, calls at Philadelphia, Savannah and Miami, before making several South American stops and finishing back in Paita.
Maersk's announcement will help continue the growth of the Port of Philadelphia's Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, which saw cargo volumes go up 10 per cent last year.
