[ Savannah Named Primary Hub for Blue Star Line’s...]

Savannah Named Primary Hub for Blue Star Line’s U.S. East Coast
Service

Blue Star(North America) LTD. Has selected the Port of Savannah as
the primary hub for container service linking the U.S. East Coast to
Australia/New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands.
The new service, which represents the first full container service to
and from Australia/New Zealand via Savannah, commenced at Savannah
with the arrival of the M/V Columbus Australia on January 18, 1997.
Blue Star Line is joined by Columbus Line in a slot-charter,
vessel-sharing agreement to and from this vibrant trade area to
augment their collective service options. Seven vessels are employed
in the service; America Star, /Queensland Star and Sydney Star(Blue
Star); Columbus Australia, Columbus New Zealand, Columbus America and
Columbus Queensland(Columbus).
Blue Star Line officials indicate that Savannah is well equipped to
handle their large volumes of northbound and southbound cargoes. “We
’re always looking for ways to improve our services and the Port of
Savannah will smooth our operations and increase efficiences for our
base of clients aling the U.S. Eastern seaboard,” stated Dennis
Strong, vice president, Eastern Division, for Blue Star Line.
Blue Star Line will be offering full container service to and from
the Port of Savannah on a 10-day frequency. In addition to Savannah
as its primary hub, the service calls the U.S. Port of Philadelphia,
Pa.;Norfolk, Va.;and Houston, Texas. Port of call in Australia/New
Zealand include Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane Australia;Auckland,
Port Chalmers and Wellington, New Zealand.