ABSTRACT
In the spring of 1974, the government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico was deciding what role-if any-to play in the liner service between Puerto Rico (P.R.) and the mainland of the U.S. The initiation of service by a new competitor, Transamerican Trailer Transport (TTT) with new roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) containerships, had brought overcapacity to the U.S. North Atlantic/P.R. trade. In addition, there was the danger that overcapacity might lead to financial ruin for existing competitiors. (Sea-Land and Seatrain competed with World War II tonnage converted to lift-on/lift-off [Lo-Lo] containerships; Trailer Marine Transport [TMT] used tugs and barges to Jacksonville and Miami.)
The Office of the Governor had received reports on the liner service, including those by a management consulting firm and others by a banking institution. Excerpts from these reports provide the information detailed in the remainder of this chapter.
