Great American Lines, Inc.
5 Becker Farm Road Roseland, NJ 07068
Phone: 973-740-0740 Fax: 973-740-0449
Email: gali@galinj.com
A Message from the President.
When the M/V "Sunbelt Dixie" was first conceived, the U.S. trade imbalance was relatively small but growing at an alarming rate. One of the largest segments in the growing imbalance was the automotive sector.
At that time, most Pure Car Carriers (PCC's), carried cars to the U.S.A., and returned in ballast. Great American Lines has developed a great deal of experience in carrying refrigerated cargoes from the U.S.A. to the Far East and Europe. Drawing upon that expertise, the M/V Sunbelt Dixie was conceived to carry cars to the U.S.A. and refrigerated cargoes on its return voyage.
When the "Sunbelt Dixie" entered service it became an actual example of two-way trade by carrying cars to the U.S.A. and returning with refrigerated products from the U.S.A.
Not only was this vessel the embodiment of two-way trade, but, by carrying cargoes in both directions, it was more economical as well.
The combination of a very clean refrigerated cargo with shipments of new cars yielded clean cargo spaces in both directions, thereby overcoming the problems associated with the carriage of cars and dirty bulk cargoes in car/bulkers. In addition, the Sunbelt Dixie was designed to facilitate both the palletized loading of refrigerated cargoes and the Ro/Ro requirements of car carriage. The result was a vessel that is not only efficient, but also capable of winning a number of awards for lowest vehicle damage percentage by a carrier.
This combination of low cost, excellent handling, and two-way trade should allow GALI to expand its business in the future, despite the changing volumes being shipped.
It is our intention to build additional combination PCC and palletized cargo capable ships in the future. The introduction of our new ship, the M/V Sunbelt Spirit, into the transpacific trade is another step in our effort to provide secure, cost competitive, state-of-the-art, and logistically comprehensive ocean carriage for our customers.
President
Last Modified: November 23, 2001