The service is operated by the Ellerman company, and Bilbao is the only Spanish port that is part of the transatlantic service.
· This is a weekly express service that reduces transit times to a maximum of 18 days from port to port with a direct connection between Bilbao and New York.
• With ships with a capacity greater than 3,000 TEUs, notably the SC MARA ship, which exceeds 5,000 TEUs
Bilbao, January 31
Ellerman City Liners is betting on the port of Bilbao by adding it to its USX – United States Express service.
The inclusion will take effect in mid-February with an inaugural ceremony attended by all stakeholders. This marks a milestone for both the shipping company and the port of Biscay, as it will be the first dock to receive ships directly from the U.S.
Over the past few years, trade relations between northern Spain and the east coast of North America have strengthened considerably, confirming a very stable level of annual traffic growth. For this reason, the shipping company has seized this market opportunity to launch this competitive offer. Its most notable feature is the reduction in transit times thanks to the elimination of transshipments, resulting in a transit time of 15 days for imports and 18 days for exports on the Bilbao-New York route.
The USX was inaugurated last December, and after a month of operations, Bilbao has been added to the ports of New York, Wilmington, Jacksonville, Tilbury, Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Hamburg. This service upgrade demonstrates the company’s commitment to providing its customers with the most competitive offering possible and meeting market conditions and demands.
From the perspective of CSP Iberian Bilbao Terminal, the port’s inclusion in this direct service presents an opportunity to position itself as a strategic terminal in the transatlantic connection. The Americas stand out as the primary destination for container traffic, after regular services to Northern Europe, making it the Basque Country’s main non-EU trading partner. This service offers interested companies the opportunity to connect with their two key market areas through a single service.
The service is currently operated by the vessels “SC Mara” and “Mona Lisa,” which have a capacity exceeding 3,500 TEUs. The container ships “Cape Hellas,” “Windswept,” and “Buxfavourite” are expected to reinforce the service soon. The weekly call schedule and the vessels operating the service guarantee regular service without disruption to shippers.
