U.S. Lines on solid footing in wake of Great Western liquidation

U.S. Lines on solid footing in wake of Great Western liquidation

   U.S. Lines will not be affected by the announcement that Americas Alliance partner Great Western Steamship Co. is immediately ceasing business operations and has been placed in liquidation, said Ed Aldridge, U.S. Lines' president and chief executive officer, in a statement Wednesday.

   Hong Kong-based USL said it had no forewarning of Great Western's sudden decision, but that it had already been working on plans to operate independently, as the Americas Alliance was scheduled to terminate at the end of February. USL will shortly announce its new 2006 network to the trade.