COLUMBUS, PARTNERS PLAN RESTRUCTURING OF U.S./BRAZIL FLEET

COLUMBUS, PARTNERS PLAN RESTRUCTURING OF U.S./BRAZIL FLEET    Columbus Line, Alianca and Crowley American Transport, three affiliates of the German Hamburg-Sud group, are planning to replace 11 medium-sized ships by seven newly-built 3,700-TEU vessels in the U.S./East Coast of South America trade.
   At present, Columbus, Alianca and partners operate two U.S. East Coast/East Coast of South America loops that employ 11 vessels of between 1,200 and 2,500 TEU capacities. Crowley American Transport operates a third, separate U.S. East Coast/East Coast of South America service with other partners, with five vessels of about 2,000-TEU capacity.
   A spokesman for Columbus said that the new 3,700-TEU vessels would be phased into a revised service in about October. Discussions are under way with other carriers of the joint services to define the eventual rotations and services. The changes will not result in major changes in capacity in the trade, the spokesman added.
   Columbus could not comment on whether its East Coast of South America services would be merged with those of sister company Crowley American Transport as part of the fleet restructuring.
   The 3,700-TEU ships will be the largest in the East Coast of South America trades.