21.   Facing such criticism, many shipping lines say they are keeping their terminals open more hours a day as a step toward shortening the lines.

22.   For one thing, it is off the beaten path of major shipping lines.

23.   George Helm, a spokesman for the shipping line Meersk Inc., said it had one general cargo container ship stuck in the Port of Houston.

24.   Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. agreed to share vessel space and coordinate sailings with the Global Alliance, a consortium of three shipping lines that pool resources to increase efficiency.

25.   However, U.S. officials say that since April, the Japanese have done little to change what U.S. shipping lines call unfair port practices.

26.   However, U.S. officials say the Japanese have done little since April to change what U.S. shipping lines call unfair port practices.

27.   If shipping lines decided to change docks, they were required to gain approval of the labor unions through the mediation of the JHTA.

28.   If shipping lines decide to change docks, they were required to gain approval of the labor unions through the mediation of the JHTA.

29.   Importers and exporters could negotiate their own contracts, often with the entire conference, sometimes with an individual shipping line.

30.   Importers and exporters were already looking forward to lower freight rates as three large Asian shipping lines expand into already crowded Atlantic trade routes early in the year.