Even with negotiations still underway to retain Maersk as a customer at the Port of Charleston, the shipping line announced that it will reroute some of its cargo away from Charleston.  Under a vessel-sharing agreement with CMA-CGM, Maersk will eliminate one weekly service call from Charleston and add that cargo to rival ports of Savannah and Virginia.  The loss is another major blow to Charleston in what is becoming a painful saga.  This latest move is a clear indication that Maersk is serious about leaving the Port of Charleston when its contract expires in 2010.

While the loss of Maersk will be difficult for the Port of Charleston to handle, I am afraid that it may be just the beginning.  When the largest shipping line in the world publicly announces that it can’t operate in your port because it is too expense relative to the competition, few other shipping lines will be beating down your door to sign up.  Where the big boys go, so goes the little guy.