Mediterranean-U.S. East Coast service

Italia Marittima SpA (ITS) has upgraded its Mediterranean-U.S. East Coast (MUS) service using larger and faster ships. Direct calls are now offered in Turkey, while two Taranto, Italy, calls provide a connection with the carrier's comprehensive Med feeder network. Six vessels, each with a capacity of approximately 2,500 TEU, have replaced the previous 1,800 TEU vessel fleet. Italia has provided two ships, Ital Oceano and Stadt Wismar, while partners CMA-CGM and Gold Star Line are supplying the other four vessels.

The MUS schedule now adds the Italian hub port of Taranto, and Barcelona now replaces Valencia as the service's Spain port of call. In addition, the carriers have added the Turkish ports of Istanbul and Izmir to the schedule, thus providing a direct link between Turkey and the U.S. East Coast.

The addition of the direct call in Taranto expands this route's service area significantly as it provides links to its network of feeder services that cover the entire Mediterranean area, including North Africa and the Black Sea. Between Taranto and Turkey, the MUS service also acts as a feeder link for cargo being transshipped from Italia Marittima's other services. The new port rotation is Taranto, Marsaxlokk (Malta), Livorno, Genoa, Fos, Barcelona, Lisbon, New York, Norfolk, Savannah, Miami, Marsaxlokk, Taranto, Istanbul, Izmir, Taranto.

Company: Italia Marittima SpA

Company URL: www.italiamarittima.com