By SCBIZ Staff

CHARLESTON -- The S.C. State Ports Authority signed a new four-year agreement with the New World Alliance, maintaining current business and adding a weekly, all-water service through the Suez Canal that connects Charleston to Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.  

The New World Alliance includes major global carriers American President Lines, Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. and Mitsui OSK Lines.

Currently, the New World Alliance has one service with two weekly calls in Charleston. The Atlantic Pacific Express service is a pendulum connecting Charleston with Asia and North Europe and brings an annual throughput of more than 175,000 20-foot equivalent units to the port.

The Suez Express service, which begins in July, will deploy eight vessels capable of carrying between 4,000 and 4,500 TEUs and include calls in Colombo, Sri Lanka; Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates; Kelang, Malaysia; and Singapore.