EUROPE

Maersk will dominate Straits

21 years ago

By 2007, it is expected that Maersk will effectively control most of the traffic passing through ports around the Straits of Gibraltar due to its presence at Algeciras, Malaga and Tangier. The Danish company recently signed a 30year concession to build and manage the new TangierMediterranean port, which it will operate as a joint venture with the Moroccan group Akwa.

Straits of Gibraltar: Maersk at Algeciras, Malaga and now Tangier

The dominance of Maersk can be seen in figures released by Algeciras port authority covering January and February 2005 during which throughput at the port amounted to 501,514 TEUs.

This is 81,797 TEUs more, or an additional 19.5%, compared with the same period in 2004.

To date, 2005 has proved to be a banner year for the Danish shipping line, which has been forced to use not only its own terminal in the port of Algeciras, but also that of neighbouring TCA. In addition, some seven services operated by Maersk also call at neighbouring Malaga port.