ATLANTIC CARRIERS PLAN SLACK-SEASON SHIP WITHDRAWAL PROGRAM

ATLANTIC CARRIERS PLAN SLACK-SEASON SHIP WITHDRAWAL PROGRAM    The Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement carriers plan to temporarily withdraw a few ships from the trade during the forthcoming New Year slack season.
   TACA members — Atlantic Container Line, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk Sealand, Mediterranean Shipping Co., NYK, OOCL and P&O Nedlloyd — are seeking approval from the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission to temporarily withdraw up to two vessels a week in the trade from late December to late January or early February of next year. They also want to bring the withdrawn vessels back around the first week of March.
   TACA implemented a similar program last winter that had been approved by the European Commission and the FMC.