An alliance between Maersk Line and the MSC, known as 2M, will switch its TA2 service from Felixstowe to Liverpool and Maersk’s Colombia Express will also come to the Mersey. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool2 will welcome its biggest vessels so far from next week when the port welcomes a new new transatlantic container service.

An alliance between Maersk Line and the Mediterranean Shipping Company, known as 2M, will switch its TA2 service from Felixstowe to Liverpool on a temporary basis from July 22. Felixstowe is struggling with problems with a new terminal operating system.

At the same time, Maersk Line’s South American service, Colombia Express, will also start calling at the port of Liverpool, exporting UK goods to Newark.

The TA2 and Colombia Express routes will use a range of vessels up to 8,500 TEU. The larger vessels will call at the £400m Liverpool2 terminal with smaller vessels using Royal Seaforth Container Terminal.

Liverpool will be the final port of call for both weekly services as they head westbound across the Atlantic. The ships will load UK export cargo such as Scotch whisky, food products and trade machinery.

The new services will also see the Port of Liverpool open up direct links with the US ports of Charleston and Savannah.

Mark Whitworth, chief executive of Peel Ports, said: “This news demonstrates the impact which our investment in Liverpool2 has had in re-shaping UK logistics, and disrupting traditional approaches to shipping.

“It is also testament to the progress we’ve made at Liverpool and the efforts we’ve made to strengthen our relationships with major lines.

“Our objective is now to secure these or similar services in the long-term by delivering the cost, congestion and carbon emission benefits that Liverpool2 in particular will offer shipping lines and cargo owners.”

Asbjorn Kops, trade and marketing director of Maersk, added: “After resuming a service in Liverpool two years ago, via a feeder connection, we have been able to offer flexibility to our customers in the North West region.

“Switching our Transatlantic service temporarily to Liverpool allows us to maintain our comprehensive UK offering with a wide range of connections to our global network.”