Messina Line Removes Second Misrata Port Call From West Med Service

Shipping Arabia, November 10, 2026 – Messina Line has eliminated the second call at Libya’s Port of Misrata from its West Mediterranean (West Med) service, reducing the port’s frequency from two calls to one per round voyage. The adjustment follows the introduction of the service in September 2026, which consolidated the carrier’s previous Libya and Algeria operations into a wider Western Mediterranean network.

According to a report by maritime research firm DynaLiners, the revised rotation retains Misrata as a port of call before Tripoli but removes the second visit previously scheduled after the Libyan capital.

Messina Line operates two vessels, each with a capacity of approximately 700 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), on the service. The network connects ports in Spain, France and Italy with Libya and Algeria.

Messina Line Revises West Med Service Rotation

Under the revised schedule, the West Med service follows this port rotation:

Castellón – Barcelona – Marseille – Genoa – Misrata – Tripoli – Algiers – Castellón.

The adjustment removes the second Misrata call while maintaining the service’s connections between Southern Europe and North Africa.

Previously, the carrier had announced a rotation that included two calls at Misrata during each round voyage, with the vessel returning to the port after visiting Tripoli.

The original rotation announced in August was:

Castellón – Barcelona – Fos – Genoa – Misrata – Tripoli – Misrata – Algiers – Castellón.

The updated schedule therefore represents a change to the service’s original operating structure, reducing the number of Misrata calls while preserving connections with both Libyan ports.

West Med Service Launched to Integrate Libya and Algeria Operations

In late August 2026, Ignazio Messina announced plans to launch the West Med Line in September, combining its existing services to Libya and Algeria into an expanded regional network.

The company said the new service was designed to provide more efficient and reliable connections while responding to changing market requirements across the Western Mediterranean.

A key objective was to improve transit times for cargo originating from regions beyond the Suez Canal through connections at the Port of Misrata.

The carrier also intended to increase sailing frequency and strengthen connectivity across its Western Mediterranean network.

Under the original operating plan, regular sailings from Spain and France were scheduled approximately every 10 days, providing customers with connections to the markets served by the expanded service.

The network was also designed to connect customers with additional destinations accessible through the Port of Genoa, extending the carrier’s coverage across Spain, France, Libya and Algeria.

Misrata Retains Role in Mediterranean Shipping Network

Despite the removal of its second call, Misrata remains part of the West Med service and continues to feature in the rotation alongside Tripoli.

The revised arrangement maintains the carrier’s connections between European ports and its North African destinations, including Libya and Algeria.

The change follows the consolidation of Messina Line’s previously separate Libya and Algeria services into a single regional operation, with the carrier retaining its wider Western Mediterranean coverage.

Source: Al Mal