In order to further optimise their service quality, Hamburg S'd, Costa Container Lines (CCL), CSAV/Libra, Niver Lines, ZIM, CMA CGM and Maruba have decided to optimise their services in the trade between East Coast South America and the Mediterranean and jointly offer two weekly services. The new Mediterranean - East Coast South America service (Med-ECSA service) will operate two slings from the beginning of March, delivering fast transit times and comprehensive port coverage.

Sling 1 will see the deployment of six vessels of 3,100 / 3,500 TEU each, with Hamburg S'd and CCL providing three. The ports served will be Barcelona, Vado Ligure, Livorno, Fos Sur Mer, Valencia, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Santos, Rio de Janeiro and Pecem.

Sling 2, in which six 2,800 TEU vessels - including two from Hamburg S'd and CCL - will operate, features the port rotation: Valencia, Genoa, Livorno, Malta, Dakar, Buenos Aires, Rio Grande, S'o Francisco do Sul, Santos.

Other eastern Mediterranean and South America East Coast ports will be covered either by feeder services or by the existing liner service network of the shipping group, thereby guaranteeing fast transit times and comprehensive port coverage.