Danish shipping giant Maersk Line has revealed that it has reached an agreement to maintain services at the Port of Charleston in the US beyond the conclusion of its current contract, which expires in 2010.
The group said that it had signed a deal with the South Carolina State Port Authority to establish a new contract through to 31 December 2014, following several months of negotiations.
The move represents a u-turn for Maersk Line, which had announced late last year that it would be pulling out of the port at the end of its current deal.
'Under the new agreement, Maersk Line will maintain a competitive position within the Port of Charleston,' said Maersk Line spokesman Dana Magliola. 'This will allow us to continue to provide a reliable service for our valued customers in South Carolina, a benefit to the economy both in Charleston and throughout South Carolina.
Maersk Line will operate from a smaller, dedicated portion of the Wando Welch Terminal, offering customers a 'reliable, committed service' at the port.
'We have worked closely with the leadership of the South Carolina State Ports Authority since we initially voiced our concern about cost competitiveness for Maersk Line within the Port of Charleston,' said Gordon Dorsey, senior vice-president of operations for Maersk Line in North America. 'We are pleased to have reach an agreeable solution for both Maersk Line and the Port of Charleston.'
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