Samskip has launched a new shortsea container route connecting Agadir and Casablanca in Morocco directly with the UK and the Netherlands. The service is aimed at the fresh produce sector, offering an alternative to traditional road transport for Moroccan fruits and vegetables. A long-term agreement has also been signed with the Moroccan Fruit Board in support of the service.
The route provides weekly non-stop sailings and integrated door-to-door services, including customs clearance and inland transport for perishable goods destined for European markets. According to Samskip, it is currently the only container service fast enough to transport vegetables from Morocco to Northern Europe.
© samskip
Ólafur Orri Ólafsson, Chief Business Officer at Samskip, said the service was developed in consultation with growers, importers, and retailers to improve delivery speed, reliability, and environmental performance.
Using Rotterdam as a transshipment and cross-docking hub, the service enables distribution across Europe, including Norway, Poland, Sweden, Finland, and the Baltic states, within days of arrival. Deliveries to Ireland can be made within six days of departure from Agadir.
The new service offers weekly direct sailings to the south of the UK and Rotterdam, with transit times shorter than other container-based options. It is compatible with 45ft reefer containers, which match the capacity of standard trailers. The company states that the service can achieve up to an 80% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared with full road transport.
The route calls at both Casablanca and Agadir before continuing to Rotterdam, providing a link into European retail markets. Samskip said the launch supports its broader strategy to expand multimodal logistics services, shifting cargo from road to sea and rail-based transport.
© samskipFor more information:
Samskip
Tel: +31 88 400 1000
Email: [email protected]
www.samskip.com
