May 8 - Messina Line is adjusting a number of its services on its Mediterranean/West Africa schedule.
Messina Line has begun a sharing agreement with COSCO Container Lines through which it co-loads on a fortnightly service operated by COSCO and Zim (MAF) between the Mediterranean and West Africa.
Messina Line has ended its con-ro service between the Mediterranean and West Africa, which was run with three 30,000-dwt vessels offering two sailings a month.
Messina's calls at Castellon and Dakar have been added to the MAF service, which now calls at La Spezia, Genoa, Tarragona, Castellon, Dakar, Lagos-Tincan, Tema, Takoradi, Abidjan, La Spezia. The fortnightly service is operated with three geared vessels of 1,900-2,500 teu. The joint service came online on April 29.
The ports of Antwerp and Setubal, previously served by the vessels on their way back from West Africa, will continue to be served by the con-ro Jolly Marrone, that will shuttle two times a month between the gateways and the West Mediterranean. Jolly Marrone will connect at Barcelona and Castellon with the Mediterranean/West Africa MAF service, as well as to East Africa, the Red Sea and the Middle East via transhipment on the other Messina services.
Messina Line plans to start a second loop for ro-ro cargo on the West Mediterranean/West Africa trade route in the future, although at present it is not accepting ro-ro only bookings from Antwerp and Setabul.
