Maersk announced a new service between East Med and Central Europe via the Adriatic Sea called Adriatic Levant Express or ALEX. Maersk is deploying two vessels on the new service to offer a solution to the East Mediterranean reefer market with departures from Alexandria (Egypt) and Ashdod (Israel) to Central Europe.
ALEX will phase in from Ashdod, 18 November 2009.
The rotation will be Alexandria (Egypt), Ashdod (Israel), Koper (Slovenia), Ravenna (Italy), Piraeus (Greece), Limassol (Cyprus), and Alexandria (Egypt).
Maersk Line also announced a general rate increase effective 15 November 2009 in the South Asia/Middle East to Europe trade. The trading conditions for the carriers operating in these markets are still subject to unacceptable rate levels and the situation is unsustainable in the longer term. The rate increase is necessary to continue to operate our services with the high level of reliability our customers have come to expect from Maersk Line.
The filed increase is as follows:
$100 per 20 ft
$200 per 40 ft
The rate increases apply to dry cargo only.