Business Relationships: Boston, Port Manatee

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Evergreen Line began direct calls at the Port of Boston for the first time in nearly 30 years with the August 20 docking of Ital Lunare at Massport’s Conley Terminal. The Greatest Show On Earth® will winter over at Port Manatee for at least the next decade under a lease agreement approved by the Manatee County Port Authority.

Evergreen Line Makes Maiden Call to Boston

Evergreen Line began direct calls at the Port of Boston for the first time in nearly 30 years with the August 20 docking of the 5,090-TEU Ital Lunareat Massport’s Conley Terminal.

"The Ital Lunare was bringing more than just cargo when she arrived at Conley Terminal this week," said Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn. "She was bringing new opportunities for the New England shipping community to do business with the world and to continue to generate billions of dollars in economic impact each year and support thousands of good-paying, blue collar jobs."

Ital Lunare has been added to the weekly AWE2 (NUE2) service between North Asia and the U.S. East Coast. This service, which is operated by the recently expanded CKYHE alliance, calls Qingdao, Shanghai, and Ningbo in China before crossing the Pacific Ocean, transiting the Panama Canal, and calling the U.S. ports of New York, Boston, and Norfolk.

"As we move forward with the dredging of Boston Harbor, we expect to continue to see new lines and new, bigger ships calling Boston," said Massport Port Director Deborah Hadden. "New England is an important global market and the Port of Boston offers unparalleled access to this market as well as first-class service."

Evergreen is the third major global container shipping line to call directly from Asia. Hanjin Shipping’s Milano made its maiden call to Boston earlier in August (Advisory, August 12, 2014). COSCO has been providing direct weekly service between Boston and Asia with partners "K" Line, Yang Ming, and Hanjin since 2002.

Additionally, Mediterranean Shipping Company’s North Europe and Mediterranean service each make weekly Boston calls.

Greeting ItalLunare2 during her stop at Conley Terminal (from left to right) Michael Vanderbeek, PPM®, Deputy Port Director, Massport Maritime Department; Deborah Hadden, Port Director, Massport Maritime Department; Bruce Chen, Deputy Director General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston; and Peter Shih, Commercial Director, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston.
Photo/Massport

Port Manatee to Host Ringling Bros. Circus Train

The Greatest Show On Earth® is planning to winter at Port Manatee for at least the next decade.

The 61-car circus train of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® – replete with some 250 performers and crew members – is slated to arrive November 17 at Port Manatee and stay through Christmas Eve, under a lease agreement approved August 21 by the Manatee County Port Authority.

The agreement, with Ringling Bros. parent company, Palmetto-based Feld Entertainment Inc., automatically renews for similar six-week periods for 10 succeeding years, with an option for five additional years. Total lease value, including option years, is more than $350,000.

"There’s always excitement when the circus comes to town, and this new relationship fits perfectly with Port Manatee’s diversification initiative," said Port Manatee Executive Director Carlos Buqueras. "The circus plays an important role in the culture of Manatee and Sarasota counties, and we are proud to be part of it."

The leased site – along 5,400 feet of railroad track outside Port Manatee’s secured area – is just 10 miles north of Feld Entertainment’s world headquarters.

Though there will be no lions or tigers or bears at the leased site, the circus train will be loaded with performance materials, motor vehicles and equipment, as well as about 250 people from 27 countries who live in what Ringling Bros. officials refer to as "a city without a ZIP code."