APL USES OWN VESSELS IN JOINT U.S. GULF/LATIN AMERICA SERVICE

APL USES OWN VESSELS IN JOINT U.S. GULF/LATIN AMERICA SERVICE    APL said it will use its own vessels in the upgraded joint U.S. Gulf/Latin America service operated with Crowley Liner Services, Compania Trasatlantic Espanola, Lykes Lines, Nordana Line, TMG-Grancolombiana and TMM Lines.
   APL has served the Latin American market for three years largely by chartering space on other carriers' vessels. The use of three 960-TEU ships in the Gulf Express Service shows APL's commitment to the region, the carrier said.
   “WE want to increase our presence and grow in the Latin America market in concert with the needs of our global and regional customers,” said Manny Fernandez, APL's vice president for Latin America.
   With the deployment of APL's ships the service, effective today, has been upgraded to weekly from every 10 days. The rotation is Houston, Altamira; Veracruz; Puerto Limon; Manzanillo, Panama; Cartagena; Barranquilla (fortnightly); Puerto Cabello; La Guaira (fortnightly); Cartagena; and back to Houston.