MSC Announces New Service

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) announced the start of a new service linking the East Coast of South America with the Mediterranean commencing January 10, 2003. MSC will offer a dedicated directs service to and from the major ports on the East Coast of South America to ports in the Mediterranean. Additionally, the company will enhance its port coverage in Brazil with direct calls at Itajai and Parangua. A string of 6 vessels with capacities averaging 4,500 TEUs will be deployed in this dedicated service. The port rotation for these ships will be as follows: La Spezia, Genoa, Fos, Barcelona, Valencia, Las Palmas, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Buenos Aires, Paranagua, Itajai, Rio de Janeiro, Vitoria, Las Palmas and Lisbon.

“This additional service enables MSC to provide even quicker and more reliable service between South American East Coast Ports and the Mediterranean,” said Mr. Nicola Arena, president of MSC. “Plus it will give shippers the added advantage of additional port coverage in Brazil.”