A.P. Moller Maersk (Maersk) has rolled out a new Asia-Southern Europe intermodal freight service as the company continues to build its end-to-end supply chain.
The first containers came from Asia on the new regular AE77 service at the Port of Vostochny on sealand vessels.
On 22 April, the containers were dispatched by train from the Russian VSC terminal (part of Global Ports Inc.) to NUTEP terminal (part of Delo Ports) at the Russian Port of Novorossiysk.
From Novorossiysk, the cargo resumed by sea to destinations in Ukraine and Turkey.
Like Maersk’s AE19 intermodal service from Asia to Northern Europe, the new AE77 service from Asia to the Black Sea and East Mediterranean area uses the Trans-Siberian route.
The largest part of the trip takes place across Siberia using the Russian railways’ infrastructure, arranged in cooperation with rail company Modul.
To supplement demand for the AE77 and AE19 services, Maersk has also deployed an additional vessel between Busan at the Southern part of the Korean peninsula, and the intermodal container port at Vostochny.
Zsolt Katona, Head of Maersk Eastern Europe, said, “The launch of AE77 is an important milestone in Maersk´s expansion of our transcontinental intermodal offering, combining rail and sea.
“The new route is an excellent alternative since our customers can be confident about fixed-day arrival and have full flexibility between various delivery options that best match their logistics needs.”
Transportation on the AE77 is covered with Maersk regular Bill of Lading and uses Maersk standard booking platform.