Turkey Service News

In order to improve our current service levels and provide customers in the region with the best solutions, ​ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd  introduced changes starting January 2018. Iskenderun port is added to TGX rotation: Thessaloniki cargo will now be served by our mainliner ZMP service, via Istanbul to Haifa, with a total transit time of 7 days and much improved schedule reliability. The change is implemented as part of ZIM’s strategy to create synergy with our mainliners through fast connections in Turkish ports. The new rotation is also aimed to overcome congestion problems in Thessaloniki and better serve the Greek market. The change is part of our ongoing efforts to expand our coverage in the region and improve overall service levels to customers.

Major Qatari shipping conglomerate Qatar Navigation (Milaha) is launching a direct service between Qatar and Karachi in Pakistan, the company said on Sunday, as it seeks to counter economic sanctions against Doha by other Arab States. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic and transport links with Doha on June 5, ending the use of Dubai's Jebel Ali port as a trans-shipment centre for goods flowing to and from Qatar. As a result, imports into Qatar plunged by more than a third from year-earlier levels in June and July…

Qatar Navigation (Milaha), the Doha-based maritime and logistics group, has launched a direct shipping service between Qatar and Turkey amid a regional diplomatic crisis that has cut Doha cut off from three of its closest neighbours. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, along with Egypt, cut diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar in June over its alleged support for terrorism and Iran - charges Doha denies. The four countries have banned Qatari vessels from docking at their ports, as well as flights to and from Doha.

Adriatic Gate Container Terminal (AGCT), International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) container handling facility in the Port of Rijeka, Croatia, recently launched China Ocean Shipping (Group) Co.’s (COSCO), Adriatic–Greece–Turkey service (AGT) when COSCO selected AGCT as the first port of call of the service. The AGCT launch was marked by the maiden call of Contship Eco last 24 February. The service, which directly connects Rijeka with Greek and Turkish ports, also links the Northern Adriatic ports with Piraeus, Greece. For Rijeka, the AGT service presents huge trade opportunities, especially for imports. Contship Eco, together with two other vessels deployed to the service…

Hamburg Süd and Seago Line to expand cooperation between North Europe and Eastern Mediterranean Hamburg 1 December 2011. With the aim of providing significantly more cost-efficient services, Hamburg Süd and Seago Line are pleased to announce that they are to enhance their cooperation in the tradebetween North Europe and Eastern Mediterranean. Both lines had responded to unfavourable market developments in this trade in August 2011 by combining their services. Starting in January 2012…

Evergreen Line is to upgrade its Greece-Turkey (GTS) service – currently linking its hub in Taranto, Italy with Piraeus and Thessaloniki in Greece, and Haydarpasa and Gemlik in Turkey – to create two weekly services deploying a combined three vessels. At the end of May the existing two-vessel service will become the GT1 and GT2 services, deploying one and two vessels respectively, providing customers with greater capacity, wider port coverage and improved schedule integrity. The weekly GT1 service, deploying the Italia Marittima-chartered 698 TEU Agilitas, will have the following port rotation: Taranto - Piraeus - Izmir - Taranto. The first eastbound sailing is scheduled to depart Taranto, Italy on 26 May. Westbound, the first sailing is due to depart Piraeus, Greece on 28 May.

Italia Marittima is to launch a new service linking its Mediterranean hub, Taranto Container Terminal, with Algiers. The so-called ALS service is expected to commence on 9 May. A chartered vessel of 369TEU will offer sailings every nine days. In addition to providing a feeder link with the Evergreen Group’s global services, Italia Marittima will also be offering a regional service linking Algiers with Italy. Italia Marittima already operates three feeder services based on Taranto, namely the Tunis - Malta Service (TMS), the Greece - Turkey Service (GTS) and the Intra-Mediterranean Service (IMS). As its name suggests, the TMS service links Taranto with Tunis and with the Marsaxlokk container terminal in Malta.