13th July 2005

Thamesport (London) Limited has welcomed the recent decision by X-Press Container Line (UK) Ltd. to introduce a third service at the Medway port. The British-owned specialist feeder operator has further committed its resources to serving Thamesport’s customers; its latest venture, the RDX service, will provide Thamesport with a weekly service to Dublin, and further strengthens the Port’s links with the important markets of Europe.

X-Press Container Line will now offer three weekly sailings from Thamesport, maintained by six vessels. The 300-TEU 'Jacob Becker' and 'Jan Fabian' are deployed on the BGX loop; the 450-TEU 'Mira J' and 'Alexandra' on the new RDX service; and the 260-TEU 'Tossens' and 'Gdynia' serving customers on the NIX service.

The port rotation of the new RDX service is: Thamesport – Dublin – Rotterdam – Thamesport

X-Press Container Line has also made significant enhancements to its popular BGX service, and will soon incorporate further calls at both Thamesport and Rotterdam.

The port rotation of the BGX service is: Thamesport – Rotterdam – Bilbao – Le Havre – Rotterdam – Gothenburg - Thamesport

X-Press Container Line’s NIX service links Thamesport with the Iberian Peninsula: Thamesport – Rotterdam – Lisbon – Leixoes – Vigo – Le Havre – Thamesport

David Gledhill, Chief Operating Officer of Thamesport, said:

“We warmly welcome X-Press Container Line’s continued commitment, and the expansion of its services at the Port. Thamesport is one of the UK’s major shortsea shipping hubs, and these enhanced feeder links give Thamesport’s customers even greater access to the important markets of Europe.”

He continued:

“We are especially keen to promote the use of alternative means of transport for freight. We are strongly supportive of short-sea and coastal shipping initiatives, which we believe have significant benefits for both our customers and the environment – providing a reliable, and often cheaper, alternative to road transport, whilst significantly reducing congestion on UK and European roads.”

ENDS

Note to Editors:

For further information please contact, Rachael Jackson, Corporate Affairs Officer, on Tel No: +44 (0)1394 604167 or Fax No: +44 (0)1394 604943, or E-mail jacksonr@hpuk.co.uk

Thamesport (TMP) is located in the heart of south east England, 10 miles from the M2 motorway, 35 miles from London. It is one of the UK’s busiest container ports. TMP is a member of the Hutchison Port Holdings Group (HPH), a wholly owned subsidiary of the multinational conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL). HPH is the world's leading port investor, developer and operator with interests in 19 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Today, HPH operates a total of 219 berths in 39 ports, together with a number of transportation-related service companies. With industry-recognised core competence in the effective and efficient management and operation of ports, the HPH Group handled 47.8 million TEU in 2004.