Maersk Launches New Mediterranean–Baltic Service via Egyptian Ports

Shipping Arabia, May 15, 2026 – Maersk is set to launch a new container shipping service linking the Mediterranean Sea and the Baltic region, with calls at Egyptian ports as part of the rotation.

The new service, named “Baltic CSLA,” is scheduled to commence on May 11 and will connect Tangier Med Port, Port of Gdansk, Port of Bremerhaven, Port of Vado Ligure, Port Said Port, and Port of Alexandria before returning to Tangier Med on a 35-day rotation.

According to Linerlytica, the service will deploy five vessels with capacities ranging from 4,200 to 5,000 TEUs. The inaugural sailing will be operated by the vessel Maersk Makoto, which has a capacity of 4,822 TEUs and is scheduled to depart from Tangier Med on May 11.

Separately, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company and Maersk are adding a new call at Port of Itajai as part of their joint Gulf–East Coast South America service.

According to Alphaliner, the revised service rotation, marketed by MSC as “Gulf to SAEC String 1” and by Maersk as “UCLA,” will begin including Itajai from early June, strengthening connectivity between southern Brazil and major U.S. Gulf ports.

The service rotation includes Veracruz, Altamira, Houston, Cartagena, Santos, Itapoa, Paranagua, Itajai, Rio de Janeiro, and Cartagena, operating on a weekly basis.

The service will deploy eight vessels with capacities ranging between 4,500 and 7,800 TEUs. The vessel Maersk Shams, with a capacity of 4,496 TEUs, is expected to make the first Itajai call on June 5.

Source: Almal News