ARC to expand U.S.-flag fleet, adds service

ARC to expand U.S.-flag fleet, adds service American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier (ARC), a Montvale, N.J.-based U.S. subsidiary of Wallenius Lines of Stockholm, Sweden, and Wilhelmsen Lines of Oslo, Norway, will expand its U.S.-flag ro/ro fleet to eight ships with the addition of vessels that have been awarded contracts in the new U.S. Maritime Security Program. It has operated five U.S.-flag ro/ro ships.
   A fourth vessel will join the company’s new U.S. East Coast/Gulf Coast/Middle East Service. ARC said its U.S.-flag U.S./Middle East ro/ro service will commence with the sailing of the “Resolve” May 23 from Houston.
   Wallenius Wilhelmsen Lines has already said it will ship commercial cargoes on the U.S./Middle East service by chartering space on the ARC vessels. ARC will target reconstruction and relief cargoes shipped or sponsored by U.S. government agencies, including the State Department, Agency for International Development and the Export-Import Bank. Vehicles and equipment will also be carried by ARC for the Defense Department.
   ARC continue to operate a transatlantic North European service, with three U.S.-flag ro/ros.