Known as the Great White Fleet
Dive Brief:
Chiquita's shipping line, known as the Great White Fleet, has reached a deal with Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) to establish a new container service from Latin American ports.
The deal — a so-called space-sharing agreement — will involve five MSC ships that will bring fruit to the U.S. Gulf coast, the East coast, and the Bahamas.
The deal comes as Chiquita shifts its Gulf operation to New Orleans, after deciding to sever business ties with the Port of Gulfport in Mississippi.
Dive Insight:
The business implications of this deal are somewhat difficult to parse. It's not clear, for example, if the MSC deal means Chiquita has secured space for a ripening facility at New Orleans ... something the company must do before leaving Gulfport.
But the business side of the deal is less important than what it means for nautical history (at least to maritime geeks and ship fans). Under the terms of the agreement, the Great White Fleet has the option to paint at least one of MSC's ships the distinctive all-white colors of the fleet, and to fly the flag of the legendary banana boats.