The South Korean shipping company HMM has announced the launch of a new container maritime service, Mediterranean-West Africa Service (MA2), which will begin operating in July as part of its global hub-and-spoke strategy.
The new service will center around the Port of Algeciras, from where the connection with the main ports of West Africa will be organized, reinforcing the role of the Andalusian enclave as a logistics hub in the Mediterranean. The route will link Algeciras with Tangier, Dakar, Tema, Lekki, and Abidjan, completing a 35-day cycle.
The MA2 service will be operated in collaboration with Ocean Network Express (ONE) using a fleet of five container ships of 2,800 TEU. The first departure is scheduled for the second week of July from the Spanish terminal.
According to the company, this new connection is designed to maximize logistical efficiency through integration with HMM’s main east-west routes, facilitating access to African markets with high growth potential.
This launch is part of the shipping company's expansion strategy, which in the last six months has strengthened its fleet with 24 feeder vessels, including new units ordered from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and acquisitions in the market, with the aim of consolidating a more competitive and flexible global network.