Sea Truck anticipates that Coatzacoalcos will eventually provide between 60 and 70
northbound loads per trip and that 50 of these will be refrigerated. These loadings will comprise
bananas, oranges, pineapples, and grapefruit.

 Due to insufficient demands, Sea Truck operations have been suspended.


 GATO MARINO

 Late in 1994, CSX Transportation and Sealand (both part of CSX) will initiate a cross
Gulf service which will be called Gato Marino (the sea cat). Gato Marino will operate between
either the New Orleans or Mobile in the U.S. [negotiations in progress at the time of this
writing] and, in Mexico, the Ports of Altamira and Veracruz. Its Mexican subsidiary, CSX de
Mexico, will invest $21.6 million and $8.3 million, respectively, at the two ports. One or both
of two types of vessels will be employed: specially designed seagoing barges and/or roll on/roll
off vessels, the latter, if employed, will be modified ex-Soviet vessels which were employed
in the Baltic. Both types of vessels will carry railcars and have a separate deck for over-the-
road trailers. The barge capacity will be 100 cars and 80 trailers. The ex-Soviet ships have
somewhat smaller capacity than the barges, but this will be offset by higher cruising speeds.


 As the U.S. terminal will be relatively far east (particularly if Mobile is selected), Gato
Marino will not be able to rely on grains for the bulk of its haulage. Indeed, CSX hopes that
the quality of service will be sufficient to capture higher valued freight. The anticipated mix
of southbound freight is: Agricultural, 17 percent; Food and Consumer Goods, 12 percent;
Paper, 26 percent; Chemicals, 16 percent; Minerals, 10 percent; Metals, 9 percent; and
Automotive, 10 percent. No projections for northbound freight as yet exist. Given that their
primary marketing are in Mexico will be the Valley of Mexico and southern Mexico, CSX is
keenly aware of the potential importance of perishables trade for their venture.

 CSX intends to offer sailings every other day. Anticipated trip times follow:


 Dwell and loading time in New Orleans/Mobile: 1 day
 New Orleans/Mobile to Altamira/Veracruz: 2 days
 Offload and dwell time in Altamira/Veracruz: 1 day
 TOTAL U.S. TO ALTAMIRA/VERACRUZ: 4 days
 Veracruz/Altamira to New Orleans/Mobile: 2 days
 Offload and dwell time in New Orleans/Mobile: 1 day
 TOTAL ROUNDTRIP 7 days