PACC RECEIVES FIRST OF SEVEN NEW BREAKBULK SHIPS

PACC RECEIVES FIRST OF SEVEN NEW BREAKBULK SHIPS    PACC Container Line Pte Ltd. has received the first of seven new purpose-built, breakbulk ships.
   The “Pac Athena” is scheduled to arrive in the United States in mid-October. It will make maiden calls at the ports of Morehead City, N.C., and New Orleans.
   PACC started its breakbulk service in September 1999. The company’s major commodity is crude rubber from Southeast Asia to the U.S. East and Gulf coasts.
   Two Chinese shipyards were contracted to build the seven breakbulk ships. PACC will receive the remaining six ships by mid-2003. PACC will then be able to offer twice monthly service.
   PACC’s new vessels are also ideal to transport forest products, bagged cargoes, steel and project cargoes. Each ship can also handle up to 1,400 TEUs of containers.
   PACC is a subsidiary of Singapore-based Pacific Carriers Ltd. The company operates a fleet of about 50 ships, including container vessels, panamaxes, handymaxes, tween deckers, lakers and MR tankers.