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Maersk Texas

In December 2004 it was reported that an agreement with MM&P-contracted Waterman Steamship Company has been reached for the US re-flagging of two containerships. The two ships, the P&O NEDLLOYD VERA CRUZ and BUENOS AIRES will be calling the Port of Houston with service to the Middle East expected. The M/V VERA CRUZ arrive in Houston on 04 December 2004 and the M/V BUENOS AIRES arrived in Houston a week later.

The agreement covering these ships is similar to that of the LASH vessel M/V ATLANTIC FOREST. The term of the initial agreement extends until the existing Maritime Security Program ends on September 30, 2005. The Gulf Ports VP further reported that the Union anticipates reaching a long-term contract agreement covering the ships to coincide with the time period of the new MSP. The two vessels have cranes and carry approximately 1800 TEUs.

Members of the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (AFL-CIO) at the regular April 2006 meetings across the country approved four contracts with Central Gulf and Waterman. The final contract governs the operation of the Waterman containerships P&O NEDLLOYD BUENOS AIRES and P&O NEDLLOYD VERA CRUZ. Those ships are reportedly due to be renamed the MAERSK TEXAS and MAERSK ARGONAUT respectively.

By letter dated August 2, 2005, A.P. Moller--Maersk, A/S (APMM) advised the Maritime Administration of its intention to purchase Royal P & O Nedlloyd, N.V. (PONL). PONL, a Dutch consortium, is the ultimate parent corporation of Farrell Lines Incorporated (Farrell). Farrell had been awarded five new MSP Operating Agreements, Nos. MA/MSP-62 through 66, respectively, for the vessels CHESAPEAKE BAY, DELAWARE BAY, ENDEAVOR, ENDURANCE and ENTERPRISE for the participation of those vessels, or their replacements, in the MSP beginning October 1, 2005.

APMM, a Danish consortium, is the ultimate parent company of Maersk Line, Limited (Maersk). Maersk is currently the holder of 19 MSP Operating Agreements, Nos. MA/MSP-24 through 27 and MA/MSP 29 through 43, covering the operation of the vessels MAERSK MISSOURI, MAERSK VIRGINIA, MAERSK GEORGIA, MAERSK CAROLINA, SEALAND ACHIEVER, SEALAND FLORIDA, SEALAND PRIDE, SEALAND MOTIVATOR, SEALAND COMMITMENT, SEA-LAND ATLANTIC, SEA-LAND CHARGER, MAERSK ALABAMA, SEA-LAND LIGHTNING, SEA-LAND METEOR, MAERSK ARKANSAS, SEA-LAND INTREPID, SEALAND COMET, SEA-LAND PERFORMANCE and SEA-LAND QUALITY, respectively. Maersk had also been awarded 19 new MSP Operating Agreements, Nos. MA/MSP-79 through 97, to continue participation of its vessels in the MSP beginning October 1, 2005.

Implementation of APMM's proposed purchase placed 24 of the 60 vessels authorized under the new MSP program to be implemented on October 1, 2005, under the ownership or control of APMM. It should be noted that Farrell continued to be the holder of those MSP Operating Agreements it previously held.

The purchase of PONL by APMM, in effect, transfered ultimate ownership of Farrell from one foreign corporate entity to another. The transaction required MARAD approval under Farrell's MSP Operating Agreements Nos. MA/MSP-62 through 66.

On 11 August 2005 the acquisition of P&O Nedlloyd was completed and P&O Nedlloyd became part of the A.P. Moller - Maersk Group. From 12 February 2006, Maersk Sealand and P&O Nedlloyd are united under the brand name Maersk Line with both their logistics businesses combined under the brand name Maersk Logistics. The integration of employees is progressing well with the office structure now in place and final details being worked out over the coming weeks.

A.P. Møller-Maersk announced in early 2006 that it had changed the names of the P&O Nedlloyd (PONL) and Farrell Lines vessels it acquired as part of the summer 2005 takeover of its former competitor. In a statement, Maersk said the new Maersk Line network would be fully implemented by June 2006. In the meantime, the company announced the following vessel name changes:

• Endeavor to Maersk Vermont
• Endurance to Maersk Maryland
• Enterprise to Maersk Maine
• Delaware Bay to Maersk Nevada
• Chesapeake Bay to Maersk Nebraska
• PONL Buenos Aires to Maersk Texas effective May 23
• PONL Vera Cruz to Maersk Louisiana with an effective date to be announced.