Maersk changes West Mediterranean ports

Maersk changes West Mediterranean ports Maersk Line said it has changed its service between the U.S. East Coast and the western Mediterranean, adding a call in Leghorn, Italy, and direct call in Valencia, Spain.
   The new port rotation in the service will be: Gioia Tauro; Leghorn and Genoa, Italy; Algeciras, Spain; Newark, N.J.; Charleston, S.C.; Houston; and then back to Algeciras and Gioia Tauro.
   The carrier said the change is to improve reliability of the service by allowing adequate time in the schedule for operational contingency.
   “This will allow our vessels to run at an optimal speed and thereby preserve schedule integrity for the benefit of our customers. In addition, we will reduce emissions,” the company said.
   Maersk said it will continue to serve Valencia via Algeciras.
   The first vessel of the new schedule will be the SL Integrity departing Gioia Tauro on April 27. The last vessel to call Valencia directly will be the SL Commitment with estimated departure on May 7.