Maersk Line had announced that it has combined its Intra Europe container volumes with global feeder volumes to form a new service, the EUROMED.

The service will 'offer a reliable coverage of ports in this trade through a single and effective product,' the group said, with the northbound sailing incorporating stops at Alexandria in Egypt and Ashdod in Israel.

EUROMED will cater for combined reefer flows from North and South America as well as Europe in one single rotation, deploying four vessels of 2,200 TEU.

'Maersk Line will offer its customers a comprehensive and consistent coverage through a single and effective product,' the group said. 'The new schedule will ensure increased reliability by having a direct service between north Europe andthe eastern Mediterranean and back again, which will accommodate our customers' needs during the reefer season.

The port rotation for the service is Bremerhaven, Tangier, Gioia Tauro, Alexandria, Ashdod, Valencia, Felixstowe, Rotterdam and Bremerhaven.