CP Ships’ vessel names will also move to single brand

CP Ships’ vessel names will also move to single brand

   CP Ships said it will adopt the “CP” prefix for its vessel names and repaint the funnels and hulls of its owned and long-term chartered ships, under the company’s new policy to move to a single brand name.

   For the first time in more than 20 years, ship names will now be prefixed with “CP,” replacing existing brand names. For example, “Canmar Venture” will become “CP Venture.”

   Ship funnels will carry the CP Ships red and white checkered flag against a field of dark blue. The flag will appear as it did in a CP Ships funnel design introduced in 1946. The new color for hulls will be the same red as in the flag.

   All owned and long-term chartered ships in the fleet will be renamed over the next several months. Repainting of funnels and hulls will take place during regularly scheduled dry-dockings, many of which will take place in 2006.

   In October, CP Ships will begin taking delivery of nine new 4,250-TEU containerships under long-term charters. These will also be painted in the new livery.

   The group said it will stop using its seven brands: ANZDL, Canada Maritime, Cast, Contship Containerlines, Italia Line, Lykes Lines and TMM Lines.

   The U.K.-based group has not said whether it intends to repaint its

containers.