A new direct weekly service connecting SA with the Middle East and West Africa is to be launched by Maersk Line and Safmarine. The rotation of the Mesawa service will be: Jebel Ali, Mundra, Jawaharlal Nehru, Durban, Luanda, Apapa, Tincan, Cotonou, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Port Louis, Jebel Ali. The vessels will phase in from Jebel Ali on January 25. The first Durban into West Africa sailing is expected mid- February, and the first from SA to the Middle East is mid-March. The service is expected to offer significant improvements in transit times from SA into the Middle East and it also provides a new direct product from Durban to Luanda, Apapa, Tincan and Cotonou. The Maersk Group-operated service will have 10 ships of 3 500 TEU capacity. This new Mesawa service will replace Saf’s current Misa service into the Middle East. The last Misa vessel to depart from SA for the Middle East will be the Maersk Inverness, Voyage 1504, sailing from Port Elizabeth on February 15.