Hamburg has one of the most comprehensive liner networks in Europe, which in turn means that it plays an important role as a transport hub for global cargo flows. Specialized liner traffic connects Hamburg to six continents. Over 100 container liner services travelling to destinations all over the world are based in Hamburg. One of the main markets for the Port of Hamburg are liner services from and to the Far East. In 2008 an average of 30 weekly full container services called at the Port of Hamburg. 19 new liner services were established in 2008. Eight of them sail on shipping routes to the Far East; three to India and the Middle East; two to South America and one each on routes in the regions North America, Australia / Oceania, Africa, the Mediterranean and the North and Baltic Seas.