Maersk Shifts US-India Route from Algeciras to Tangier Med Port

Despite this decision taken for "commercial reasons", the port of Algeciras remains "a strategic priority" for Maersk, the Danish company assured El Debate, announcing that the Spanish port will play a "key role" in the commercial agreement with Hapag-Lloyd (Gemini cooperation). "Gemini includes several key services between Asia and Europe, including container ship calls of 20,000 TEU," explains Maersk, which informs that these ships will start calling at the Andalusian port from February 1.

The shipping company says it "highly appreciates the professionalism and experience of the Algeciras team, as well as its results as a key transshipment platform in its network." But it has abandoned the Spanish port in favor of the port of Tangier in Morocco in recent months. By removing the call at Algeciras, Maersk avoids having to comply with the new European Union emission rights regime, which came into force in 2024 and taxes shipping companies for their call at European ports.

Under this new regime, companies will have to declare their emissions before March 31 each year. Ships will pay 40% of their 2024 emissions this year, 70% of their 2025 emissions the following year, and 100% of their 2026 emissions in 2027. With the Gemini cooperation, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd plan to reduce emissions in 87 ports. This system, Maersk believes, "helps reduce the price difference between fossil fuels and green fuels in a system where the price includes all relevant greenhouse gases."