Danish shipping group Maersk Line has announced the introduction of a new direct service, ME2, linking India and the Middle East with the West Mediterranean and back, through a slot exchange agreement with United Arab Shipping Co. on its Mina Service.

The launch of the ME2 service is aimed at enhancing the group's current product portfolio, according to Maersk Line, and offers a number of benefits to customers including direct coverage of key West Mediterranean ports, superior transit times and high schedule reliability.

The port rotation for the service is Valencia, Genoa, Jeddah, Jebel Ali, Port Qasim, Nhava Sheva, Jeddah, Genoa, Barcelona and Valencia.

The eastbound service will launch in Genoa on 21 September 2009, with the westbound service beginning at Nhava Sheva on 19 September 2009.

'The slot exchange agreement is part of Maersk Line's ongoing commitment to constantly improve our services and meet our customers' requirements,' the group said in a statement.