Trailer Bridge to call Dominican Republic

Trailer Bridge to call Dominican Republic Trailer Bridge Inc., the container barge carrier that offers a service between the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico, said it would begin service to the Dominican Republic later this year.
   The company said it plans to deploy the same 53-foot containers in the Dominican Republic trade as it uses in Puerto Rico.
   Trailer Bridge will put a fifth barge into service which is capable of carrying 281 53-foot containers, representing a 20.5 percent increase in total capacity to all markets.
   Trailer Bridge also said it will begin taking delivery of 1,000 new 53-foot owned containers and 850 new 53-foot owned chassis in May.
   The new service will connect the ports of Jacksonville, Fla. and San Juan, Puerto Rico, with Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.
   The company noted that its decision to serve the Dominican Republic comes on the heels of a March 1 announcement by the White House that the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement had been implemented with respect to the Dominican Republic, which is expected to enhance trade with the United States.