Company to ship 5,000 BMWs out of Charleston

Charleston Regional Business Journal
January 12, 2010

The S.C. State Ports Authority has taken some business from an East coast competitor that will result in two ships docking in Charleston each month. Hoegh Autoliners, based in Oslo, Norway, expects to load more than 5,000 vehicles each year, starting this month.

Hoegh, one of the world’s largest operators in the rolling stock and vehicle transportation, announced it will bring the ships to the Port of Charleston as part of its Middle East service.

The company’s first vessel, the Hoegh Bangkok, is scheduled to arrive at the Union Pier Terminal on Jan. 29 to load export BMWs made at the manufacturer’s S.C. plant, the S.C. State Ports Authority said in a news release.

“Hoegh is a highly respected name in the international shipping industry,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the ports authority. “The entire maritime community is pleased to welcome Hoegh back to the Port of Charleston.”

The service is expected to load more than 5,000 vehicles annually that Hoegh previously moved across a competing South Atlantic port, the news release said, without specifically naming the port.

The Hoegh Bangkok was built in 2007 and can carry 7,800 car equivalent units, according to Hoegh Autoliners.

“This is good news for waterfront workers and businesses,” Newsome said, “and it means more cost-effective service for our customers.”

Hoegh’s Middle East service offers port coverage from Mediterranean ports into the Red Sea and to the Persian Gulf and India. Trans-shipment onto other Hoegh vessels offers access into other ports in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Hoegh operates about 70 vessels across the globe, managed from a worldwide network of 31 offices in four regions. Its customers include global manufacturers of new cars, heavy machinery and rolling goods. Hoegh Autoliners carries 2 million CEUs and makes about 3,000 port calls each year.

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