Shipping Arabia, September 24, 2026 – Hapag-Lloyd has introduced a new feeder arrangement to maintain Casablanca coverage following changes to its West Africa Express (WAX) service, which now provides direct connections between Damietta and key West African ports.
The carrier will market the new Casablanca Feeder (CSF) service using slots on X-Press Feeders’ SPX1 service, according to Alphaliner. The rotation covers Barcelona – Valencia – Algeciras – Casablanca – Barcelona, with cargo connecting to Hapag-Lloyd’s WAX network.
The arrangement follows Hapag-Lloyd’s decision to remove Casablanca from the revised WAX rotation while maintaining access to the Moroccan port through a separate feeder connection via Valencia.
Under the revised WAX structure, Hapag-Lloyd is strengthening links between the Mediterranean, Türkiye and West Africa, including direct connections from Damietta and Valencia to major West African ports. Damietta will also provide connections with other Hapag-Lloyd services calling at the Egyptian port.
The revised WAX rotation is Damietta – Izmit – Gemlik – Istanbul – Valencia – Tangier – Lagos (Tincan/Apapa) – Onne – Cotonou – Tema – Lomé – Tangier – Barcelona – Damietta. It also provides a direct Türkiye-Valencia connection.
The first announced sailing under the revised rotation was Merkur Ocean, voyage 2639S, with arrival at Damietta scheduled for September 21.
Hapag-Lloyd said the network changes are intended to provide greater operational flexibility and improve schedule reliability, while the new feeder arrangement allows the carrier to retain Casablanca within its wider Mediterranean and West Africa network.
Source: Almal News
Feeder Services
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Hapag-Lloyd Keeps Casablanca Coverage Through New Feeder Service
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Damietta Container Terminal Handles Four Ships in 6,395-Move Operation
Shipping Arabia, September 20, 2026 – Damietta Container & Cargo Handling Company is simultaneously handling four containerships involving 6,395 container moves, including two 368-meter Yang Ming mother vessels, highlighting the terminal’s capacity to manage large mainline ships alongside feeder operations.
The four vessels are being worked across the terminal’s container berths 1 to 6, which extend for a combined 1,450 meters.
Yang Ming’s YM Wellhead, measuring 368 meters with a draught of 15.8 meters, is alongside berths 1-2 for an operation involving 2,387 moves. Sister vessel YM Window, also 368 meters long and drawing 13.8 meters, is being handled at berths 2-3 with 2,386 moves.
The two mother vessels are operating alongside feeder services. Maersk’s 175-meter AS Sara is at berth 4 for 1,122 moves, while the 140-meter Jona Sophie, operated by United Feeder Services (UFS), is at berth 5 for a further 500 moves.
Together, the four operations represent 6,395 moves across the terminal, combining mainline and feeder activity within the same operational window.
Rear Adm. Dr. Rafik Galal, Executive Managing Director of Damietta Container & Cargo Handling Company, said the dimensions of the vessels currently alongside remain below the terminal’s maximum operational capability.
The terminal has previously handled containerships approaching 400 meters in length with draughts of up to 16.10 meters, supported by berth development and deepening works and investment in additional ship-to-shore (STS) and rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes.
Galal said the infrastructure and equipment programme is intended to improve handling efficiency and maintain the terminal’s ability to accommodate newer generations of ultra-large containerships.
The continued development forms part of Egypt’s wider port and logistics strategy, with Damietta strengthening its capacity to serve mainline and feeder networks in the Eastern Mediterranean and support growing transshipment activity.
Source: Damietta Container & Cargo Handling Company
