Maersk Line is cutting the number of direct calls on its Asia – Europe services by dropping overlapping port pairs.

In move designed to both boost transit times between key ports and reduce costs.

Maersk said that ultra-large container vessels deployed on its five Asia – North Europe services were a “key enabler” in the move which it said would increase liability through slower network speeds, while reduced port calls would allow shorter transit times.

The company highlighted a decrease in the transit times by four days between Asia – Bremerhaven and Rotterdam westbound, as well as a five day reduction in the eastbound Rotterdam to Shanghai route.

“We are utilising our scale to deliver a better product. With the largest network and the deployment of an increasingly uniform fleet of ultra large container vessels, we maintain our extensive direct coverage while focusing each service towards best in class transit times to specific markets on the trade,“ said Vincent Clerc, coo of Maersk Line.