Horizon Lines to Add Tampa Port Call to Existing Service Between US Gulf and Puerto Rico
09.03.2009
Charlotte, N.C. (September 3, 2009) – Horizon Lines, Inc., (NYSE:HRZ), the nation's leading domestic ocean shipping and integrated logistics company, announced today that it will add regularly scheduled vessel container service between Tampa, Florida and Puerto Rico. A vessel call at the Port of Tampa will be added to the carrier’s Gulf Express Service (GAX), currently operating a fixed-day, bi-weekly schedule between Houston, Texas and San Juan. The Tampa service is scheduled to commence with the arrival of the HORIZON DISCOVERY on October 4th.
The addition of a port call in Tampa provides new options for customers located in west and central Florida, while continuing to provide fast and reliable fixed-day vessel service between Houston and San Juan. The Tampa call is expected to begin contributing to the company’s earnings within the first few months of service.
“We are excited to add this new dimension to our market-leading services for both the US Gulf and Florida customer base,” said Chuck Raymond, Chairman, President and CEO of Horizon Lines, Inc. “We continue to find innovative and cost-effective ways to add value for our customers. We teamed with Tampa Port Authority, Ports America, the terminal services provider, and the International Longshoremen’s Association leadership to create an excellent new opportunity for Puerto Rico shippers in central Florida.”
Richard Wainio, Tampa Port Director and Chief Executive said of the new service, “We look forward to welcoming Horizon Lines to Tampa, adding to our container growth momentum and enhancing service to our port’s expanding business community.”
“Horizon Lines’ reputation for quality service in the Puerto Rico trade is unsurpassed” noted Stephen Edwards, President and Chief Executive of Ports America. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with them in Tampa, where we are projecting significant growth over the next few years.”
The expanded biweekly Gulf Express port rotation will be Houston, Tampa, San Juan. The Gulf Express complements the carrier’s direct U.S. east coast Puerto Rico services offered from Jacksonville (twice weekly) and Elizabeth, NJ (once weekly).
Media Contact:
Gordon Forsyth
BSY Associates Inc.
(732) 817-0400 x15
About Horizon Lines
Horizon Lines, Inc. (www.horizonlines.com) is the nation's leading domestic ocean shipping and integrated logistics company comprised of two primary operating subsidiaries. Horizon Lines, LLC owns or leases a fleet of 21 U.S.-flag containerships and 5 port terminals linking the continental United States with Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Micronesia and Puerto Rico. Horizon Logistics, LLC offers customized logistics solutions to shippers from a suite of transportation and distribution management services, information technology developed by Horizon Services Group and intermodal trucking and warehousing services provided by Sea-Logix. Horizon Lines, Inc. is based in Charlotte, NC, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol HRZ.
About Tampa Port Authority
The Tampa Port Authority (www.tampaport.com) administers Florida’s largest and one of the nation’s most diversified ports, serving one of the largest markets in the Southeast, with eight million people within 100 miles of the port.
About Ports America
Ports America, headquartered in Iselin, N.J., is the largest independent port terminal operator in North America, providing terminal management and a full suite of stevedoring and related services, including portside automotive processing services. Ports America, including its predecessor companies, has more than 85 years of experience operating American seaports. Its current business includes 50 ports and 97 terminals in North America, handling containers, roll on/roll off cargo, general cargo and cruise ship passengers and luggage. Volume in 2008 included 12.9 million TEU, 4.5 million vehicles, 9.1 million tons of general cargo and 1.8 million cruise ship passengers. As one of the largest employers of maritime labor in North America, Ports America employs more than 12,000 people each day at its operations, including full-time equivalent employees. Additional information may be found on www.portsamerica.com.
Forward Looking Statements
The information contained in this press release should be read in conjunction with our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are those that do not relate solely to historical fact. They include, but are not limited to, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance, achievements or events. Words such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “target,” “projects,” “likely,” “will,” “would,” “could,” and similar expressions or phrases identify forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties. In light of these risks and uncertainties, expected results or other anticipated events or circumstances discussed in this press release might not occur. We undertake no obligation, and specifically decline any obligation, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 5, 2009, and subsequent Form 10-Qs, for a more complete discussion of these risks and uncertainties and for other risks and uncertainties. Those factors and the other risk factors described therein are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could harm our results. Consequently, there can be no assurance that actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences.