The Japanese shipping company Ocean Network Express (ONE) has announced the launch of a new weekly maritime service that will connect the Strait of Gibraltar with West Africa. Named Mediterranean Africa Express Service (MAX), the service will have its first stop in Algeciras on July 7, 2026, and will operate through the transshipment centers in Algeciras and Tangier Med as connection platforms between the Far East, Northern Europe, and the West African coast.
The rotation of the MAX includes a route that starts at the Port of Algeciras and then heads to Tangier Med. After leaving the Strait of Gibraltar behind, the vessels will head to Dakar, the capital of Senegal. From there they will continue to the port of Tema in Ghana and Lekki in Nigeria, finally arriving in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. From the Ivorian capital, the vessels will return to Algeciras to resume the weekly cycle of the route.
According to the company, the new service has been designed "to provide stronger connectivity between the Far East, Northern Europe, and West Africa through the transshipment centers in Algeciras and Tangier Med." ONE has also indicated that with this line it aims to "ensure reliable transit times and greater capacity to meet the supply chain needs" of its customers.
The shipping company has not provided details about the container ships that will be assigned to the service or the capacities that will be offered on each rotation. The port terminals that will be used both in Algeciras and at the other stops on the itinerary have also not been specified.
The launch of the MAX takes place in a context of growing interest from major shipping companies in developing connections with emerging African markets. The continent has recorded an increase in container traffic in recent years, supported by the development of port infrastructure and the expansion of consumer markets in the region. Sectors such as consumer goods, machinery, and project cargo account for a significant part of the demand on the routes between Asia and West Africa.
The use of Mediterranean transshipment centers allows shipping companies to optimize the flexibility of their networks and offer more efficient routing options, while distributing cargo flows to reduce congestion risks and maintain greater integrity in the scheduling of their services.
ONE currently operates a route between the Strait of Gibraltar and West Africa. The Africa Rainbow Shuttle (ARS) connects Tangier Med with Dakar in five days and with Abidjan in twelve days, so the arrival of the MAX could represent a reformulation or complement to the currently operational line, although the company has not commented on this.
With the incorporation of the MAX into its service catalog, ONE adds a new connection in which Algeciras and Tangier Med play a central role as logistics platforms for trade between three continents. The Port of the Bay of Algeciras thus consolidates its position as a strategic link point on the routes connecting Europe, Asia, and the African continent.