American Ro-Ro adds ships to Mideast service

American Ro-Ro adds ships to Mideast service    American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier LLC (ARC) said it will transfer two ships it operates between the United States and Europe to the U.S./Middle East trade, while retiring another ship, creating additional capacity and increased frequency of service.
   The Park Ridge, N.J.-based carrier said two U.S.-flag ro/ro ships, the Freedom and Liberty, will join sister ships Resolve and Honor.
   ARC said the redeployments “will add necessary U.S.-flag capacity and improved frequency to support U.S.-flag preference cargo and commercial customers in the important and expanding Mideast market.”
   At the same time ARC also said it is retiring another ro/ro ship, Independence, from U.S.-flag liner service at age 30.
   The changes will be made in February and March, and will result in four ships offering 17-day frequency.
   ARC will maintain its current base port calls at Houston; Jacksonville, Fla.; Baltimore; Charleston, S.C.; Kuwait; Dammam; Dubai; Jeddah; and Alexandria. It will also    offer inducement calls to ports throughout the region.
   ARC said it also plans to purchase a new U.S.-flag ship that will be deployed in its European service.
   Effective in March, ARC will offer a North Europe service four ships on a fixed day of the week schedule.
   The new ship will join Patriot, Courage and Integrity in the in the U.S./North Europe trade. Base port calls in the service will remain Newark; Baltimore; Brunswick, Ga.; Charleston; Bremerhaven; Antwerp; Zeebrugge; and Southampton.
   “This will give us the opportunity to expand our service and commitment to the growing Mideast trade and, at the same time, maintain service levels and capacity in the Europe trade,” said Raymond P. Ebeling, Chairman and chief executive officer of ARC and the ASL Group.