Maersk: North America - Mediterranean service enhancements

The company will discontinue the East Med service and cargo moving between the East Mediterranean and North America will be carried on MECL services
 
As part of Maersk Line's ongoing efforts to better its services, the company announced service enhancements between North America and the East Mediterranean area.
 
The enhancements will further enable the company to meet customers' requirements for schedule reliability and fast transit times.
 
As of August 2007, the company will introduce calls at Port Said (Egypt) on its MECL 1 (eastbound) and MECL 2 (westbound) services. The terminal in Port Said is operated by APM Terminals and especially developed as a transhipment center.
 
Features include: Improved schedule reliability and faster transhipment services in selected corridors such as Haifa to Savannah in just 14 days; Reliable and efficient connections via Port Said (Egypt) to Izmir, Haifa and other East Mediterranean ports via Maersk Line's own feeder network, thus minimizing any impact of port congestion; Weekly fixed-day departures; Improved transit times to/from North America and the fastest transit times in the industry to/from the developing South Atlantic market via Savannah (Georgia); Global connectivity via seamless access to Maersk Line's worldwide network.
 
The first MECL 1 (eastbound) departure from the US East Coast to Port Said will be the Maersk Missouri, voyage 0713, departing Newark on 28 August and Charleston on 1 September 2007.
 
The first MECL 2 (westbound) departure from Port Said (Egypt) to North America will be the Maersk Daesan, voyage 0710, on 2 August 2007.
 
As a consequence of the above and in line with the company's optimization efforts, it will discontinue the East Med service and cargo moving between the East Mediterranean and North America will be carried on MECL services.
 
Consequently, the company will adjust capacity in line with the expected development on the Mediterranean to North America trade. The company phase out the East Med service during the fourth quarter of 2007.