ports

Maersk Launches West Coast Latin America Shuttle Service

Maersk is expanding its shuttle network to western Latin America with a new service launching in September. The West Coast Shuttle will connect Mexico, Panama, and Ecuador using three vessels. The 2,500 teu AS Palina will depart Posorja on September 20 on the inaugural sailing, operating on a rotation between Posorja, Balboa, Lazaro Cardenas, and Manzanillo. The service extends Maersk's Gemini hub strategy, leveraging its port facilities to consolidate regional traffic. The launch coincides with modifications to Maersk's Asia-Latin America AC1 service, which will discontinue direct Posorja calls in favor of transshipment connections through the new shuttle network. The eight-vessel AC1 service will adopt a revised rotation excluding its previous Ecuador stop. The expansion follows the March opening of Phase II at APM Terminals' Lazaro Cardenas facility.