Maersk aim has been to improve the reliability of the WestMed service and thus offer a dependable product with adequate time in the schedule for operational contingency. This will allow vessels to run at an optimal speed and thereby preserve schedule integrity for the benefit of customers. In addition, Maersk will reduce emissions.
The schedule of the new WestMed service will include a call at Leghorn. Thereby Maersk offer a direct and reliable service from the Italian ports of Gioia Tauro, Genoa, and Leghorn to the US East Coast and Gulf as well as providing a competitive eastbound product from the US and into the Mediterranean.
The new port rotation will be as follows: Gioia Tauro (Italy), Leghorn (Italy), Genoa (Italy), Algeciras (Spain), Newark (US), Charleston (US), Houston (US), Algeciras (Spain), and Gioia Tauro (Italy).
Maersk will serve Valencia via Algeciras with an connection to the WestMed and MECL2 services, hence providing two weekly services to Newark, and one weekly service to Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, and Houston.
The first vessel of the new schedule will be the SL Integrity (voyage 0808) departing Gioia Tauro on 27 April 2008. The last vessel to call Valencia directly will be the SL Commitment (voyage 0807) with estimated departure on 7 May 2008.