To accommodate the growing demands of importers and exporters on both sides of the Atlantic, Maersk Line announced expansion of its service offerings with new direct service to Montreal and Halifax, with integrated transshipment options in Algeciras and Valencia via Maersk’s APM Terminals.
The Maersk-operated weekly service will be a five-vessel rotation stopping in Salerno and La Spezia (Italy), Fos-sur-Mer (France), Algeciras (Spain), Montreal and Halifax, and Valencia (Spain). The first departure from Salerno will take place on July 2, and will arrive in Montreal on July 9.
Jack Mahoney, President of Maersk Line Canada, stated “With one agreement in effect to fuel Canadian imports and exports in the Atlantic and another one in the works for the Pacific, this represents only favourable wind behind the expansion of our services in Canada and enable our customers to reach new markets in Europe and Asia.”
For 2018, Maersk forecasts a growth rate of 7 per cent in Canadian maritime container volumes, with CETA and CPTPP accords expected to further support transatlantic and pacific trades. In addition, Maersk expects to see another year of healthy growth for Canadian East Coast imports from the Middle East, India, Pakistan and the Far East, which increased by more than 9 per cent in 2017.
The new service will call Montreal’s Cast Terminal, operated by Montreal Gateway Terminals. In addition, the service will make an Eastbound call in Halifax, catering to the important Eastern Canadian market for export of perishables.