As announced on transportando.net news ( 16/07/01 ) , the below-listed members of the United States East Coast / East Coast of South America Vessel Sharing Agreement has confirmed that they have filed a proposal with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to revise and extend their existing agreement.

Under the terms of the proposal, the member carriers will revise and enhance their fixed-day weekly service linking East Coast U.S. ports with those of East Coast South America including Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela. The proposed plan calls for the replacement of existing tonnage with new vessels.

The VSA members stated that the revised schedule is intended to offer customers expanded port coverage, improved schedule reliability, and greater flexibility and efficiency in cargo handling and management.

Trade capacity overall is not expected to change from today's levels.

Planned port rotation for the proposed service is:

- String 1: Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Jacksonville, Miami, Suape, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Buenos Aires, Rio Grande, Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Suape (alt. Fortaleza) and Philadelphia.

- String 2: Norfolk, New York, Charleston, Jacksonville, Freeport, Miami, Puerto Cabello, Santos, Paranagua, Sao Francisco do Sul, Santos, Salvador, Puerto Cabello, Freeport.

The revised service would commence on or about September 26, 2001.

USEC/ECSA Vessel Sharing Agreement Members:

- Hamburg Sud group (Aliança Navegacao & Logistica Ltda, Columbus Line, Crowley American Transport)

- CSAV/Libra

- Maersk-Sealand

- P&O Nedlloyd