Upgraded West Africa service gets moving

LLOYD TRIESTINO and SCL (Safmarine and CMBT Lines) have entered into a vessel sharing agreement on the Mediterranean - West Africa route.
The upgraded service will operate weekly using four ships with 1100 teu capacity and a service speed of 18,5 knots. The ships are geared and fully cellular.
Each line will provide two vessels - Lloyd Triestino the Cape Sable and Carola, and SCL the SCL Iberia and SCL Italia.
The service will offer two rotations, each with a round trip voyage time of 28 days.
Rotation A will call at Gioia Tauro, La Spezia, Barcelona, Las Palmas, Monrovia, Abidjan, Lagos, San Pedro, Las Palmas, Gioia Tauro, Abidjan, Las Palmas Valencia. Rotation B will serve Valencia, Gioia Tauro, La Spezia, Fos, Barcelona, Las Palmas, Nouakchott, Dakar, Banjul and Conakry.
In addition to this direct port coverage, transhipment options via Gioia Tauro will be available to and from a range of Med ports. The complete range of West African ports not served directly will be offered via Las Palmas.
The new service is currently being phased in and follows last month's announcement of the reconfiguration and upgrading of the joint Mediterranean/Southern African service operated by the two lines.