News

Liverpool opens up US South Atlantic with 3rd new service

For Immediate Release - 17 August, 2006

The first ship has left Liverpool on a new Italia Marittima-Zim container service - the third North Atlantic service attracted to the Port since the beginning of 2006.

The 1800 teu capacity Artemis made the inaugural sailing from the Royal Seaforth Container Terminal bound for New York, Norfolk and Savannah

The weekly fixed day service will be maintained by four ships, two deployed by Italia Marittima, part of the Evergreen Group, and two by Zim Integrated Shipping Services.

The Italia/Zim service will offer direct calls at Antwerp and Hamburg before Liverpool as the last European port of call.

All three new services to start from Liverpool since the beginning of the year are operated by members of container shipping's "premier league". Said Frank Robotham, Marketing Director of Peel Ports Group, owners of the Port of Liverpool: "We are delighted to have the Italia Marittima-Zim service to further consolidate Liverpool's No 1 position in UK-USA container trade. We are particularly pleased that this service opens up the Port of Savannah as a new gateway into the US South Atlantic Region for business through Liverpool."

The two other North Atlantic container services introduced at Liverpool this year are operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company and Maersk and CMA CGM and China Shipping Container Line.

Agents for the Italia Marittima service are Warrant Group plc of Liverpool. Zim provide their own agency service.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Italia Marittima is part of the Evergreen Group.
The other North Atlantic services attracted to Liverpool in 2006 are the Mediterranean Shipping Company - Maersk Line weekly service to Montreal and the CMA CGM - China Shipping Company weekly service to New York, Baltimore and Norfolk.

Press Enquiries:

Eric Leatherbarrow, Head of Corporate Affairs, Peel Ports Group,
Tel +44 (0)151-949-6374
Pictures available on request

News page