APM Terminals Elizabeth welcomed the first call of Wan Hai’s revised Far East – US East Coast AA7 service this month. The terminal’s facilities for efficiently handling Ultra Large Container Vessels  play a key role for the new service which plans to operate larger ships on the route.

The weekly AA7 service is a new joint service between Hapag-Lloyd and Wan Hai. Twelve ships of 4,500 to 13,500 TEU (Twenty foor Equivalent Units) will rotate between Shanghai, Ningbo, Taipei, Shekou, Cai Mep, Singapore, Colombo, Suez Canal, APM Terminals Elizabeth, Norfolk, Charleston, and Savannah. The smaller ships of 4,500 to 6,500 TEU currently operated by Wan Hai will be gradually replaced this year with larger ships of 7,500 to 13,500 TEU including the new Wan Hai A-cl

APM Terminals Elizabeth has a 6000ft (approx. 1,830 metre) berth and is equipped with Super Post Panamax cranes with a 23-container outreach to efficiently work multiple ULCVs and Neo-Panamax Vessels simultaneously.

Highly rated by truckers

Truckers appreciate APM Terminals Elizabeth in New York/New Jersey for its fast truck turn times of around 50 minutes to complete all operations. Over 85% of truck visits are completed within two hours. Current and past truck turn times are displayed live via the terminal’s website for complete transparency and improved planning. The website also provides live feedback from truckers visiting the terminal via ‘Happiness Rating’ buttons at the gate, which automatically update the average score on the website and instantly flag to the terminal when action might be needed.

Using a direct-to-rail landing zone on the terminal during vessel discharge operations, APM Terminals Elizabeth can expedite rail cargo to its near dock rail facility in an average of 12 hours after discharge. Once cargo arrives at the Millennium Marine Rail-operated terminal (an APM Terminals joint venture), port labour and APM Terminals teams work on the 18-track rail operation to build double-stack trains for fast handoff. Three Class I railroads (CSX, NS, CN) take cargo to inland markets 2-4 days away. On the return trip, trains carrying U.S. exports call the terminal for loading on vessels, ensuring a smooth roundtrip railcar flow.

Ongoing investment

This high level of customer service has been maintained by ongoing investment in people and equipment. The terminal runs a Lean methodology training program to help every colleague identify opportunities to reduce waste and improve efficiency. Teams also work directly with customers to map processes and identify more efficient supply chains solutions.

In 2022, the terminal invested $18.9m to expand storage capacity in the container storage yard, adding space for 250,000 TEUs. Investment in equipment includes six new ship-to-shore cranes, with two already commissioned, two arriving this summer and two in 2024. APM Terminals Elizabeth’s diesel container handling fleet will also be electrified this year, in support of the company’s global decarbonisation ambition to be fully net zero by 2040.