Top global carrier Maersk Line is relaunching its Asia-Europe Network with an overall reduction of 17 port calls on its North European and Mediterranean strings and the addition of one vessel in a move that is designed to improve schedule reliability. The first Westbound sailings on the new schedule are set to start in early May.

“As part of the new network, reliability will be enhanced by reducing the amount of duplicate port calls and allocating more buffer time around hub ports,” Maersk said in a press release.

With the network changes, which apply to Asia-North Europe and Asia-Mediterranean strings, Maersk Line said it will significantly improve schedule reliability while retaining competitive coverage and transit times.

“We are pleased to provide our customers with this revised network, which will offer them a higher level of cargo arrival reliability”, said Maersk Line head of Europe trade Johan Sigsgaard.

Port congestion and weather conditions have, among other factors, traditionally impacted reliability on Asia-Europe services. Changes introduced by Maersk Line will address these challenges by significantly improving buffers in schedules, making it easier to accommodate potential disruptions and thus minimising the impact on service delivery.

“Forced port omissions disrupt cargo flows and impact our customers’ supply chains. This network is designed to reduce the necessity to omit ports”, added Sigsgaard.

The revised portfolio will also allow Maersk Line to better balance available capacity across markets, reducing the risk of oversupply and providing strengthened services to key Asian and European ports, it said.