Puerto Rico Maritime Shipping Authority, which owns one of the largest steamship lines calling at the Port of Baltimore, has agreed to a six-year lease of 20 acres at the new Seagirt Marine Terminal.

The state Board of Public Works approved the agreement yesterday, but it has not been formally signed.

PRMSA will begin receiving cargo at Seagirt on Monday, port officials said.

The shipping authority previously leased 20 acres at the Dundalk Marine Terminal.

Michael P. Angelos, president of the Maryland International Terminals Inc., which operates Seagirt, said the advantage of the new lease is PRMSA's long-term commitment and annual volume commitments for the duration of the lease.

Baltimore Port officials refused to specify how much cargo PRMSA has promised to move or the amount of the lease.

PRMSA is the third tenant at the 265-acre Seagirt terminal. Evergreen Marine Corp. and Mediterranean Shipping Co. are the other tenants, which also moved from other terminals in the port.

PRMSA is the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico's agency that owns Navieras de Puerto Rico shipping line. Baltimore is the line's only port of call in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The line provides weekly service between San Juan, Puert Rico, and five U.S. mainland ports, including Baltimore. The line can handle all types of containerized cargo as well as vehicles and heavy-lift machinery.