Flanders

Hapag-Lloyd, one of the biggest shipping companies in the world, is set to launch three container ships on its new route between Antwerp and New York, with the first, Valerie Schulte, departing for New York on 13 September and making the return voyage to Antwerp on 25 September. The three ships take nine days to make the crossing, and each can take some 2,200 TEU, with one TEU equalling a container of about 6 by 2.4 by 2.6 meters. The shipping company intends to use the vessels to cate to the growing demand for trans-Atlantic container transport. The half-year figures published by the Antwerp Port Authority in July show that container traffic has increased by 20 percent in the first six months of 2010 as compared to 2009. Transhipment likewise increased from 42.9 million tons to 51.3 million tons. "These figures confirm Antwerp's position as the second-most important container port in Europe,' said Eddy Bruyninckx, CEO of the Antwerp Port Authority.

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