Hurricane Isabel causes ship delays at Horizon Lines

Hurricane Isabel causes ship delays at Horizon Lines

   Hurricane Isabel is causing some delays in the U.S. mainland/Puerto Rico schedules of Horizon Lines, as the carrier takes measures to keep its ships away from the storm.

   Puerto Rico missed the brunt of the storm, but “large ocean swells and dangerous surf conditions, rain and high winds will have some impact,” Horizon Lines said.

   The carrier said that the southbound vessel “Horizon Producer” would sail further east than expected due to heavy head sea and swell caused by the hurricane. The route followed from New Jersey to Puerto Rico to avoid the effects of the hurricane could add more than 200 miles to the voyage to San Juan, Horizon Lines said.

   The “Horizon Hawaii” will be sailing behind the anticipated route of hurricane Isabel as it moves up the east coast of the U.S. Adverse conditions could cause further delays in the vessel’s arrival at Port Elizabeth.

   Horizon Lines said that the vessel “Horizon Discovery,” in the port of Jacksonville, would be stowed with three tiers of containers above deck rather than the usual four. This would reduce the vessel capacity and mean that some 45-foot and reefer containers would be shut out.