A.P. Moller – Maersk has decided to launch a new service linking China and Europe via Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Romania in about 40 days, Report informs, citing foreign media sources.
“Aiming to create agile and creative solutions to our evolving customer’s needs, this revamped service comes at the perfect time to help ease current logistics woes. We have listened to our customers and developed a solution that provides them with an alternative and eco-friendly intermodal connection between Asia and Europe. Over 90% of the Middle Corridor rail service is electrified,” said Maia Parlagashvili, global product manager for Intercontinental Rail at Maersk.
After crossing the Khorgos border between China and Kazakhstan, the containers arrive by train at Aktau station, where they are loaded on a barge in Baku, Azerbaijan. From there, the containers are transported to APM Terminals Poti, Georgia, where they are loaded on a feeder vessel to Constanta, Romania. The cargo is then railed to various destinations in European countries.
This new route started in March, and the first departure from China took place in April, serving customers from the lifestyle, automotive and household appliances industries.
“The Corridor has sufficient open capacity, allowing our customers to strengthen their supply chain resilience by having an alternative route to Ocean and Air services,” added Parlagashvili.
