Sisters combine on Europe - sub continent route

SAFMARINE WILL enter into a Joint Vessel Agreement (JVA) with Maersk Sealand from July this year on an upgraded service between Europe, the Middle East and sub continent. The line has resigned from the EPIC service (Europe - Pakistan - India - Consortium), giving six months notice. Safmarine will provide two of the six post-panamax ships while Maersk Sealand will provide four vessels of the same type. Details of the faster transit times, port coverage and the vessels’ names will be announced prior to the official launch date. Safmarine CEO Howard Boyd commented: “Until the middle of this year it is business as usual as our current EPIC membership will continue until then. From July we will however introduce a dedicated product, which we have named PRIME EXPRESS, Pakistan - Red Sea - India - Middle East - Europe, which will be marketed and serviced independently.”