The SAX/SAECS/SRX service jointly operated by Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, and Ocean Network Express (ONE) has added a northbound call at Algeciras to its rotation as of May 2026. The updated rotation includes London Gateway, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Algeciras, Ngqura, Durban, Cape Town, and back to Algeciras, completing the European loop.
The Port of Algeciras, one of the largest and busiest container ports in the Mediterranean, serves as a natural transshipment hub for cargo between Europe, Africa, and the Far East thanks to its strategic position at the Strait of Gibraltar. Hapag-Lloyd announced that the Algeciras northbound call will be added to the SAX rotation starting with MV Santa Rosa, with an estimated arrival on May 7, 2026. This operational update enhances service flexibility and connectivity options on the Europe-South Africa trade lane.
The SAECS service connects South Africa's main container ports—Port Elizabeth (Ngqura/Coega), Durban, and Cape Town—to Northern Europe's key terminals including Rotterdam, London Gateway, and Bremerhaven. Algeciras's direct connections throughout the Mediterranean and South Atlantic regions, with particularly strong routes serving the Europe-Africa corridor, extend the service's coverage. The container lines continue to maintain weekly service frequency, deploying nine vessels on this rotation.
APM Terminals Algeciras is one of the largest terminals in the Western Mediterranean, equipped to serve ultra-large container ships over 20,000 TEU and has an impressive track record of safety, efficiency, and productivity. Meanwhile, the Port of Ngqura handled 1.85 million tons of cargo in January 2026, including containerized cargo of 77,066 TEUs. These capacity and performance indicators demonstrate the ability to respond to growing trade volumes on the Europe-South Africa route.
Note: This summary draws on Container News's publicly visible headline + subhead + opening paragraph and on sector background on Europe-South Africa container services.
Key Takeaways:
1. SAX/SAECS/SRX service adds Algeciras northbound call from May 2026
2. Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk and ONE joint service serves Europe-South Africa trade
3. Updated rotation covers London Gateway, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Algeciras, Ngqura, Durban and Cape Town ports
4. Port of Algeciras serves as Europe-Africa-Far East transshipment hub with strategic Strait of Gibraltar location
5. Service continues operating at weekly frequency with nine-vessel deployment
