Senator Lines will phase in a new vessel on its two-sling Mediterranean-Canada service MCS. The recently chartered Montreal Senator will replace the Canada Senator currently running on the service linking the Mediterranean ports with Montreal.

The phasing-in of the 2,130 teu Montreal Senator will take place on 21 May 2008 at the port of Gioia Tauro. The 2,017 teu Canada Senator, which has been serving on the Mediterranean-Canada service since April 2001, will then phase out.

The new vessel has been chartered for a period of initially two years.

"The increased vessel size of 2,130 teu and the better speed capability of 20 knots will increase the service quality of our MED-Canada service", says Mark Ehlers, Director Operational Management at Senator Lines.

"The Canada Senator at present features a maximum speed of only 18.5 knots.

Thus by replacing the vessel by the slightly bigger and remarkably speedier Montreal Senator we are a lot more flexible in our transit times and berthing windows. We expect an even better schedule reliability, therefore,' Mark Ehlers adds.

The port rotation of the MCS string known as "Loop A", on which the Montreal Senator will be running, is Gioia Tauro - Salerno - Genoa - Fos - Montreal - Gioia Tauro. The first Montreal call of the new Senator Lines vessel will be on June 5, 2008.