Maersk upgrading Europe/Middle East tonnage

Maersk upgrading Europe/Middle East tonnage Maersk Line is about to phase in ships of 6,250 TEUs on its weekly Europe/Middle East ME3 service, substituting the present 5,500-TEU vessels.
   Starting June 7 with the departure of the Maersk Kensington from Algeciras, the Danish carrier said it will also introduce an additional ship to be able to slow steam and improve schedule reliability. Maersk plans to complete the phase-in of the new ships within four weeks.
   “The reduced speed on the ME3 will not only ensure a more reliable service to our customers, but it will also provide a more environmentally friendly transport due to the reduced emissions,” the company said in a statement.
   The Port of Tangiers in Morocco has already been added to the itinerary to offer connections to the Mediterranean and Africa.
   The revised rotation of the ME3 is Algeciras, Tangiers, Gioia Tauro, Port Said, Salalah, Jebel Ali, Nhava Sheva, Salalah, Jeddah, Port Said, Gioia Tauro and Algeciras.
   Maersk’s sister company Safmarine Container Lines is a partner on the ME3.