The sight of container ships idling outside Los Angeles and Long Beach ports has become a recurring nightmare for international traders. Now, China COSCO Shipping has unveiled an innovative solution: a rapid multimodal transport service that slashes delivery times from China to Chicago to just 19 days.
The breakthrough lies in bypassing America's clogged West Coast ports entirely. Shippers can now route cargo through Prince Rupert, British Columbia—a Canadian port with significantly less congestion than its U.S. counterparts. The ocean journey from Shanghai, Ningbo, or Qingdao takes approximately 14 days, comparable to traditional Pacific crossings.
The Northern Corridor Advantage
Upon arrival in Prince Rupert, containers transfer directly to Canadian National Railway tracks, which connect seamlessly with DP World's terminal operations. This integrated approach eliminates the bottlenecks plaguing U.S. West Coast ports, where combined delays from docking queues, unloading, and rail transfers typically stretch total transit times to about 30 days.
"This represents a paradigm shift in transpacific logistics," noted an industry analyst. "By leveraging Canada's underutilized infrastructure, COSCO effectively halves the door-to-door duration while improving reliability."
Expanding Access
The service will extend to clients of COSCO's Ocean Alliance partners—CMA CGM and Evergreen Line—with plans to add more inland destinations across North America's eastern regions. Prince Rupert's strategic position along the Great Circle Route makes it an ideal hub, situated at the shortest maritime path between Asia and North America.
British Columbia has quietly developed its "Pacific Gateway" initiative since 2007, with Prince Rupert now handling nearly 10% of Canada's West Coast logistics. Approximately 9% of these shipments ultimately re-enter U.S. markets, establishing what experts call the "Northern Corridor" as a viable alternative to traditional supply chains.
This development arrives as global trade networks seek resilience against persistent disruptions. The new route not only offers shippers additional options but could help alleviate systemic pressure on overwhelmed transportation nodes.