DANISH shipping giant Maersk Line, together with France's CMA CGM will add a new Asia-Europe service, the AE8 from July, creating an alternative for
shippers needing fast transit to north Europe.

By offering direct calls to the Le Havre, Hamburg, Rotterdam and Zeebrugge, Maersk said it will provide a more competitive selection of departures and improved transit times.

The new AE8 string is part of the vessel sharing agreement with CMA-CGM, consisting of ten 13,000 TEU vessels, with five operated by each line from July.

The AE8 westbound rotation will be Ningbo, Shanghai, Shenzhen-Yantian, Tanjung Pelepas, Port Klang, Le Havre, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge. The eastbound service will call at Le Havre, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, Port Klang, Singapore and Ningbo.