For most of its U.S. customers, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has begun a weekly, direct service to Santo Tomas de Castillo, in Guatemala, and Puerto Cortes, in Honduras. Service, which is via MSC's hub in Freeport, Bahamas, is available to and from all U.S. ports served by the company except Long Beach and Boston.

"We are very pleased to be able to offer our clients a new weekly Central America service," says Allen Clifford, executive vice president, commercial, at MSC (USA) headquarters in New York City. "The company already has significant service commitments in South America with our ongoing services to both the East and West Coasts. By adding Central America, MSC extends its reach ... with its unsurpassed service."

In addition, MSC will be able to offer inland and on-carriage services to El Salvador and Nicaragua via these new ports of call.

A privately-owned company based in Geneva, MSC operates more than 318 container vessels.

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