Maersk forges first Ecuador-Russia direct container link

DENMARK's Maersk Line has announced a weekly direct service between Ecuador and Russia, the ECUBEX, which is the first direct liner route between the two countries.

Maersk said this was prompted by demand for refrigerated shipments of fruit, particularly bananas, from Ecuador to Russia and well as providing Russian exporters to develop trade links in South America.

The service will employ six ice-strengthened 2,500-TEU ships with 600 reefer plugs.

The port rotation will be Guayaquil, Ecuador; Balboa, Panama; Rotterdam; St. Petersburg-PLP; St Petersburg-FCT; Bremerhaven; Manzanillo, Panama; Balboa and back to Guayaquil.

(Source: Sea Trade Asia)