Although speakers are strictly forbidden to advertize too openly about their own companies, I cannot resist mentionning that CMA is the leading carrier from Asia into the Med and that CMA is also the carrier offering the most comprehensive coverage with its own operated vessels in the Med. Not less than 36 ports are served directly including some fascinating places like Misurata in Lybia or Poti in Georgia. The Med is a very interesting battlefield to study as the options available for liner operators to serve this market are numerous. This is linked to geography, Med is a transit area between Asia and North Europe, this route being one of the dominant worldwide trades. Many large vessels are exiting Suez Canal are proceeding to either North Europe or US East Coast via the Med.
Coasts are close and it is tempting to make a stop-over at luring ports.
All configurations exist and some operators are even making complex combinations between the various options in order to offer the best possible service package. What is extremely interesting in particular is that the two major liner operators in this World are radically adopting opposed strategies. I am refering to Maersk on the one hand and to Evergreen on the other hand. Maersk strategy has been to develop the utilization of mega hub ports namely Algeciras and Gioia Tauro in which it has demonstrated its long term commitments by making investments. These Terminals are then served by their mammoth vessels of 6000 teus operating on trunk lines, sometimes called conveyors.