APL PLANS U.S./MEDITERRANEAN SERVICE

APL PLANS U.S./MEDITERRANEAN SERVICE    APL Ltd., the container shipping unit of Neptune Orient Lines, said Tuesday it will start a new transatlantic container service to the Mediterranean, through a slot-charter agreement with Maersk Sealand, starting in early November.
   The weekly service will call Gioia Tauro and Genoa, Italy; and Algeciras, Spain in the Mediterranean, with feeder connections to and from Greece, Turkey and the Black Sea.
   The U.S. port rotation will be New York, Charleston, Miami and Houston.
   APL has been expanded its European presence over the past year, establishing a Europe headquarters in London and developing its own organizations in Austria, Benelux, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.
   “It is APL's clearly stated intent to provide a comprehensive international, intermodal transport system throughout Europe,” said Ken Soerensen, president of APL Europe. “I consider this latest addition to our services as an important element of this plan.”
   The new U.S./Med service complements a weekly Asia service already provided by APL, which includes sailings to and from Genoa, Barcelona and Fos/Marseilles for major Southeast and North Asia destinations.
   APL also plans to start three new weekly services in mid-October, linking North Europe and North America.