HMM has officially announced the launch of its new Mediterranean West Africa Service (MA2), set to begin operations in July 2026. This new route is a core piece of HMM’s hub and spoke strategy, designed to link primary East West trade lanes directly with emerging African markets.
Starting the second week of July, the MA2 will operate in partnership with Ocean Network Express (ONE). The service will deploy five 2,800 TEU container vessels on a 35 day round trip schedule.
Utilizing Algeciras as a central connectivity hub, shippers will have access to the following port rotation:
Algeciras (Spain)
Tangier (Morocco)
Dakar (Senegal)
Tema (Ghana)
Lekki (Nigeria)
Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)
Algeciras (Spain – Return)
Fleet Expansion for Feeder Networks To support this growing feeder network, HMM has actively invested in new vessel capacity, securing 24 feeder ships over the past six months alone. This strategic expansion includes:
Ten 2,800 TEU ships: Ordered from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in March 2026.
Two 1,900 TEU ships: Acquired from the market earlier this year.
Twelve 1,800 to 2,700 TEU ships: Ordered last October.
ALSO READ:MSC Launches Phoenix Service Connecting Asia and the Mediterranean
An HMM official noted that the MA2 service serves as a strategic gateway into high potential emerging markets. By successfully integrating these new feeder services with existing main haul routes, the ocean carrier aims to build a much more comprehensive global logistics network.