ALGECIRAS – Ocean Network Express (ONE) will launch its Mediterranean Africa Express Service (MAX) on July 7, 2026, creating dedicated direct connections between West African ports and global trade corridors.
The initiative aims to streamline cargo movements for shippers by integrating West African trade lanes into a wider global network, reducing reliance on fragmented routing and addressing the increasing complexity of modern supply chains.
West African Port Rotations
The MAX service is structured as a weekly circular rotation designed to provide reliable access to international markets through established Mediterranean hubs. The vessel sequence includes the following ports:
- Algeciras
- Tangier
- Dakar
- Tema
- Lekki
- Abidjan
Following the call at Abidjan, the service returns to Algeciras to complete the rotation, offering exporters and importers in Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire a predictable gateway into long-haul services.
Global Trade Integration
The service utilizes Algeciras and Tangier as strategic transshipment hubs. By routing West African cargo through these points, ONE intends to strengthen connectivity between the region and several major global markets, including:
- Far East Asia
- Northern Europe
- The Indian Subcontinent
- North America
- Latin America
This hub-and-spoke model is intended to simplify logistics for shippers seeking flexible routing and more dependable transit times to and from the West African coast. It also consolidates volumes onto larger mainline services, a key feature of modern liner shipping networks operating under the global competition and safety rules set out by bodies such as the International Maritime Organization.
Strategic Focus on African Growth
The expansion comes as the shipping industry sees a rise in demand for stabilized connections between African markets and the rest of the world, and as governments in the region seek to deepen export capacity in sectors ranging from agriculture to energy and manufactured goods.
Hosaka, Managing Director of ONE (Europe), stated: “We are committed to investment and growth in Africa. The MAX service is a vital addition to our network, strengthening the links between West Africa and key global trade routes while providing our customers with seamless access to ONE’s extensive international network.”
The integration of the MAX service into the broader company infrastructure allows customers to access onward connections across the Mediterranean, Asia, and both North and South America. For policymakers, the added frequency and direct calls are expected to support ongoing port investment programs and customs modernization efforts, aligning with the European Union’s evolving maritime transport and competition framework that governs how liner services and consortia operate on key trade lanes.
Full schedules for the MAX service are available on the ONE website, along with booking windows and cut-off times for exporters and importers using the West Africa-Mediterranean corridor.
