Maersk replaces Rio Grande with Itapoá in service between Europe and South America

Maersk will promote an important change in its navigation network between Europe and South America. The company announced that it will replace the stopover at the Port of Rio Grande (RS) with a stop at the Port of Itapoá (SC) on its Samba service, responsible for connecting northern Europe and the South American east coast.

According to the shipowner, the change occurs due to frequent operational problems recorded at the Rio Grande do Sul terminal. With this, Rio Grande will be used exclusively for cargo transshipment operations, while Itapoá assumes the role of a regularly scheduled port on the route.

The new configuration will come into effect from June 5th, when the ship San Raphael Maersk arrive at the Port of Santos inaugurating the new route. The change will also impact Maersk’s partner in the service, CMA CGMwhich markets the same route under the name Safran.

The service will operate with a new logistical design. In the south direction, the ships will depart from Southampton, in the United Kingdom, replacing the previous call in London, heading to Rotterdam, Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Antwerp, Tangier, Santos, Paranaguá, Montevideo and Buenos Aires. Upon returning to Europe, the route will include Itapoá, Paranaguá, Santos, Tangier and Southampton.

The operation is carried out in a nine-week cycle, using a fleet made up of seven ships with a capacity of 8,850 TEUs and two vessels with a capacity of 10,589 TEUs. The expectation is that the inclusion of Itapoá will contribute to greater operational regularity and logistical efficiency in the connection between the European and South American markets.

The change reinforces the growing relevance of the Port of Itapoá in the international shipping scenario, consolidating its position as one of the main entry and exit ports for containerized cargo in the South of Brazil.