In 1977, Southern Pacific Marine Transport was a non-vessel common carrier established for the purpose of handling, in conjunction with domestic land carriers, intermodal container traffic moving to or from foreign ports. It was successfully engaged in the overland bridge movement of shipments from West Coast origins to Gulf ports for further movement via ocean carriers to destinations in the United Kingdom, northern Europe, and Scandinavian and Mediterranean countries. The services of Southern Pacific’s truck and railroad lines were utilized for the handling of the traffic to Gulf ports. At the time, it was predicted that this kind of business had growth potential.