MAERSK JOINS ASIA/AFRICA SAFARI CONSORTIUM

   Maersk Line has joined the Safari consortium of conference carriers in
the Asia/southern Africa trade.
   Maersk has started buying slots on the ships of the consortium and has
withdrawn the four vessels it operated in its previous Asia/South Africa
service.
   The change of service does not involve a change of conference membership
for Maersk, which already belonged to the Japan and Hong Kong/South Africa Shipping Conference.
   Maersk is finalizing the takeover of Safmarine Container Lines, a
founding member of the Safari consortium. The other consortium lines are
P&O Nedlloyd, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, "K" Line and Malaysia International
Shipping Corp.
   Maersk has reduced from 10 to 6 the number of ships it employs in its
Algeciras/South Africa/Asia service. It has ended the South Africa/Asia leg
of this operation, now replaced by the Safari service.