Hatsu Marine Ltd, London, the UK-affiliate of Taiwan's Evergreen Group, is to make its first foray into the North Atlantic trades with the launch of a new service linking Antwerp, Hamburg and Montreal. This follows its inauguration of a North Europe - Far East service in January 2004 and a North Europe Mediterranean service effective April 4th, 2004. Hatsu already offers its US and Asian customers seven weekly transpacific services. The first sailing is scheduled for April 29 from the port of Antwerp and the planned port rotation is: Antwerp-Hamburg-Montreal-Antwerp. Hatsu is slot-chartering space on this service, which deploys three chartered vessels of approximately 1.500 teu. The UK Company may provide its own tonnage at some time in the future.
ITJ