Maersk to upgrade weekly service to Europe, W. Asia

Maersk Line is to upgrade its weekly Europe/Middle East (ME3) service, also covering Nhava Sheva, by inducting higher capacity vessels.  Starting June 7, 6,250-TEU capacity vessels will replace in phases the present 5,500-TEU capacity vessels on the route.  The process of induction is to be completed within four weeks, it is learnt. New port of call  From June 7, the Port of Tangiers will be the additional port of call on the ME3 service to facilitate connection to ports in the Mediterranean and Africa and the revised port rotation will be : Algeciras – Tangiers – Gioia Tauro – Port Said – Salalah – Jebel Ali – Nhava Sheva – Salalah – Jeddah – Port Said – Gioia Tauro – Algericas.
The Danish carrier, it is learnt, will add an extra vessel on the route in order to slow steam not only to reduce fuel costs but also to provide “a more environment-friendly transportation due to reduced emissions,” the sources add.
Meanwhile, India China Service (ICS), jointly operated by TSK Line, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine and Regional Container Line to offer direct service between China and India also covering Singapore and Malaysia with five vessels of 2,700-TEUs each, was recently launched.
The service, on a 35-day round trip with fixed day weekly sailing, has the following port rotation:
Xingang-Qingdao- Ningbo-Shekou-Singapore-Port Kelang-Nhava Sheva-Pipavav- Singapore.