US to Sea-Land:
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PRELUDE to the visit of American astronaut Captain James Lovell, whose wife sponsored US Lines' SS American Astronaut and attendant ceremonies when the ship visited Tilbury this week, was the shock news that Sea-Land Services Inc. is to virtually take over the 16-ship container fleet of United States Lines. Already the largest operator of containerships in the world. Sea-Land will be placed in a very strong position indeed to face the "threat" of a new competitor on the North Atlantic. Seatrain Lines, due to commence operating into Felixstowe around the end of the year.
The news is of significance to hauliers because Sea-Land, fathered by American haulier Malcolm McLean, will undoubtedly reorganize haulage arrangements of US Lines and streamline them to fit in with their overseas haulage operations. To Sea-Land, the land carriage of containers is the most important part of the operation. Though they currently operate 33 containerships worldwide, they regard them as ancillary to the road (and sometimes rail) haul.