CAROTRANS EXPANDS IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST THROUGH ALLIANCE WITH OCF

CAROTRANS EXPANDS IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST THROUGH ALLIANCE WITH OCF    CaroTrans International, the neutral non-vessel-operating common carrier has expanded into the Pacific Northwest, forming a load center with Overseas Container Forwarding Inc.
   The alliance allows Union, N.J.-based CaroTrans to offer direct all-water service from Seattle to Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore in the Far East, as well as service to the West Coast of South America, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
   Loading cargo via Seattle will cut as much as seven days off transit times for cargo to North Asia, CaroTrans said. Cut-off times were typically three to four days earlier because cargo had to be trucked to Los Angeles. In addition, Seattle is often the last U.S. port call for lines before sailing to Asia, shaving additional days off transit.
   CaroTrans also said it is working on plans to route Chicago, New York and Charleston, S.C. containers destined for Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore through Seattle to take advantage of the faster ocean transit times.
   OCF, based in Vancouver, with an office in Calgary, specializes in moving less-than-containerload cargo over Pacific Northwest ports since 1979.
   'OCF has a strong presence in the Seattle/Portland market and, quite frankly, CaroTrans did not,' said John Hepworth, chairman and chief executive officer of CaroTrans International.
   While CaroTrans expands its Northwest presence, 'OCF can take advantage of CaroTrans' vast U.S. network,' Hepworth said. 'OCF cargo destined to Africa, the Middle East and the U.K. will be transported to CaroTrans' CFS (container freight station) in New York. Cargo for the Caribbean, South/Central America will be routed via CaroTrans' CFS in Miami.'