MAERSK STARTS OF U.S./AUSTRALIA/N.Z. SERVICES

MAERSK STARTS U.S./AUSTRALIA/N.Z. SERVICES    As expected, Maersk Sealand is introducing two direct, weekly services between the West Coast of the United States and Canada, on the one hand, and Australia and New Zealand, on the other hand.
   In December, Maersk Sealand and four existing carriers of a vessel-sharing agreement (ANZDL, Columbus Line, FESCO and P&O Nedlloyd) had filed an agreement with the Federal Maritime Commission to operate an extended VSA in the North America/Australasia trade.
   Beginning February, Maersk Sealand will take space on the VSA’s Pacific Northwest and Pacific Southwest services, under the new agreement. The VSA operates a total of 15 vessels.
   Maersk Sealand said that its shippers will have expanded North American West Coast port coverage, with calls at Vancouver, Portland, Seattle, Oakland, and Los Angeles.
   With the introduction of the direct West Coast service, Maersk Sealand will no longer offer a transshipment service from the U.S. West Coast to the Oceania region, except for cargo destined for Fremantle, Western Australia.