[ HAPAG-LLOYD ANNOUNCES TRANSPACIFIC SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS ]

Hapag-Lloyd announces the expansion of the company’s North America/Fa
r East operations. The service enhancements will be implemented during
the Spring of 1995, and will include insertion of larger capacity ves
sels on some routes. As well as addition of direct calls at Shanghai,
Peoples Republic of China and Gaem Chabang, Thailand and will offer mo
re competitive transittimes as well as better cut0off and arrival dat
es. The service details, such as port call days-of-week are in the pro
cess of being finalized and will be available shortly.
Hapag-Lloyd’s transpacific service is presently operated in a consort
ium with Neptune Orient Lines, Singapore and NYK Line of Tokyo. From M
ay of 1996, P&O containers Ltd. will become the fourth member of this
consortium.
The new service which will consist of four dedicated, weekly North Ame
rican West coast to Asia shuttle services as well as two weekly all-wa
ter services to and from the Atlantic seaboard.
In Asia, Hapag-Lloyd will transship cargo to and from other major carg
o-hubs through the use of it’s extensive intermodal network.
Service enhancements were also announced for Hapag-Lloyds European ope
rations. The Pacific Atlantic Express(PAX) vessels, which in addition
to the service between North America and Asia also connect the west an
d east coasts of North America with Europe, will in future change the
European rotation to call at Antwerp, Thamesport, Bremerhaven and Rott
erdam.
These European changes, which will take effect already in January 1996
, will offer improved cut-off times in Rotterdam, and provide better s
ynergy with Hapag-Lloyd’s other services between Europe and North Ame
rica.