Hapag-Lloyd will make weekly routes from North Europe to Seagirt Marine, the first port of call for the container carrier’s ships upon crossing the Atlantic. Securing a spot as the first stop for a container ship is key for importing volume because more cargo is typically unloaded at the first port than subsequent ports, Maryland Port Administration officials say.
Hapag-Lloyd’s ships will make stops in England, France, Belgium and Germany before stopping in Baltimore on the way to Mexico, Houston, New Orleans and Charleston, S.C.
The new business could lead to 600 new jobs, including 255 direct jobs at the port. Other jobs could stem from trucking and towing, for example.