Maersk and Sea-Land have launched their new joint AE-3 service between Europe and the Middle East to India. Ports of call are Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Algeciras, Jebel Ali, Damman, Nhava Sheva (Bombay), Colombo and Jeddah. The service, which calls at Bremerhaven every Monday, provides a 24-day direct service from Bremerhaven to India. Containers from India to Bremerhaven arrive within 21 days. A port spokesman said: 'The first departure of the Paris Maersk from the BLG Container Terminal in Bremerhaven signalled commencement of the new AE-3 service.' In 1995, 19.6 million tonnes of goods were handled by BLG facilities in Bremen and Bremerhaven. Turnover in general cargo was 18.5 million tonnes. Fifteen million tonnes were transported in 1.53 million teus. A total of 31 million tonnes of all kinds of goods were handled in the ports of Bremen and Bremerhaven.
