LYKES, TMM, HAPAG-LLOYD MERGE GULF/EUROPE SERVICES

   Lykes, TMM, Hapag-Lloyd and other lines are merging their weekly U.S.
Gulf/South Atlantic/northern Europe services into a 10-ship, twice-weekly
service that will remove two ships from the transatlantic.
   The Gulf Atlantic Sprint service of Lykes and slot charterers APL and
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and the Gumex loop of Hapag-Lloyd, TMM, Tecomar and Atlantic Container Line are being replaced by a joint, two-loop service.
   Each service loop will consist of five ships. Lykes Lines will operate
five 2,700-TEU U.S.-flag ships on loop 1, while TMM and Hapag-Lloyd will
supply five 2,200-TEU non-U.S.-flag ships on loop 2.
   The port rotation of loop 1 is Antwerp, Thamesport, Bremerhaven, Le
Havre, Charleston, Miami, Veracruz, Houston, Charleston and Antwerp. The
itinerary of loop 2 is Antwerp, Thamesport, Bremerhaven, Houston, Veracruz, Altamira, New Orleans, Charleston and Antwerp.