PHILIPPINES - Marianas Express Lines launched two vessels - the MV Islander and the CEC ACE - bound for Hong Kong, Palau and YAP. The MV Islander sailed from the port ofCebu last July 31,2005, while the CEC ACE made her maiden voyage from the port ofCebu last February 28,2005.

"With both ships having a capacity of350TEUs and a speed of 15 knots, traders now have greater flexibility of service to Hong Kong, China, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan", said VAN Transport's president and general manager, Louie Ugarte.

The MV Islander has a reefer capacity of 72 reefer sockets while the CEC Ace has 48, which will give reefer shippers, like banana and mango traders, another option on shipments to the Far East.

Marianas Express Lines also calls on Guam, Saipan, Palau and Yap and boasts ofunmatchable transit times to all these ports.