In March 2008, YICT welcomed the commencement of three of Maersk's new Asia-Europe services – the AE8W, AE3W and AE11W services. The three new routes, which were launched at Yantian on 4, 12 and 22 March respectively, will offer shippers more flexibility for trade between China and Europe.
Maersk has deployed 18 8,600-TEU vessels for the joint operation of the AE8W service and the AE1 service – another of the shipping company’s active European routes. The AE8W service calls at Yantian every Thursday.
In addition, Maersk has deployed eight 5,047-TEU vessels for the AE3W service, which will call at YICT every Wednesday. Another eight 6,802-TEU ships will be deployed to the AE11W service, which will call at Yantian every Saturday.
The AE8W service will regularly serve Shekou, Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian, Tanjung Pelepas, Le Havre, Suez Canal, Southampton, Gothenburg, Aarhus, Bremerhaven and Rotterdam.
The AE3W service will visit Singapore, Qingdao, Xingang, Dalian, Busan, Yantian, Tanjung Pelepas, Suez Canal, Port Said, Bosporus, Constanta and Ilyichevsk.
The rotation of the AE11W service is composed of Qingdao, Xingang, Dalian, Ningbo, Yantian, Tanjung Pelepas, Suez Canal, Gioia Tauro, Valencia, Malaga and Algeciras.