today outlined a road map for developing a U.S. Marine Highway that will
ease congestion around gateway trade corridors and improve the overall
efficiency of America’s transportation system.
Raymond told attendees at North America’s Marine Highways Conference
that Horizon Lines is working with maritime unions to design a viable labor
model for a Coastwise Container Feeder Network. The feeder service will act
as a safety valve moving containers from congested gateways to smaller
ports closer to destination with better intermodal connections. The U.S.
Maritime Administration is hosting North America’s Marine Highways
Conference April 15-16 in Virginia Beach, Va.
Raymond called for the creation of a National Port Development Plan
within the context of the National Freight Transportation Program
recommended by The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study
Commission. The national port plan would prioritize federal funding of port
projects, such as dredging and inland infrastructure construction according
to a port’s role in global supply chains.
“A strategic approach to port development within a national freight
transportation funding framework will play a key role in creating a viable
Marine Highway system,” Raymond said. “Gateway ports with deep water will
serve the large containerships and the primary metropolitan consumer
markets. Regional ports will provide the intermodal safety valve served by
a network of smaller container vessels and ro/ro ships, offering fast
connections and efficient service to local markets. Inland ports will
develop efficient highway alternatives, supporting barge and ferry
networks.”
Raymond discussed our country’s need for a working Marine Highway to
improve the fuel efficiency of the transportation system, to help ease
highway and rail congestion around our major cities and to improve the
environment. He reinforced the severity of the looming transportation
infrastructure crisis as a reality that can no longer be denied.
“The information technology revolution has reached a plateau,” he said.
“We are at a crossroads, and at the crossroads of the global economy today,
you find logistics. The very real business of moving real things on
highways, trains, ships and airplanes is subject to the very real laws of
physics.”
“Simply stated, the global economy will grow only as fast as we are
physically able to carry it.”
About Horizon Lines
Horizon Lines, Inc. is the nation’s leading domestic ocean shipping and
integrated logistics company comprised of two primary operating
subsidiaries. Horizon Lines, LLC, operates 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 designed by Aero
Logistics, 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.
Forward Looking Statement:
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 March 2,
2007 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.
