Morten Maersk adds cargo capacity at Jeddah

DP World has handled the maiden call of Morten Maersk at South Container Terminal in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The vessel, with capacity for more than 19,000 TEUs, operates on the AE15 service by Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd. Its call strengthens cargo links between Saudi Arabia, Asia and Europe, supporting the movement of goods through major trade routes.

The AE15 service connects Jeddah with Qingdao, Ningbo and Tanjung Pelepas in Asia, and Port Said and Damietta in the Mediterranean. These links give Saudi importers and exporters access to key markets for containerised cargo, helping them move goods through established shipping routes.

At about 399 metres long, Morten Maersk is built to carry large volumes of containerised cargo. Its arrival also highlights Jeddah’s role in handling vessels serving major international trade routes.

Mohammad Alshaikh, CEO of DP World Saudi Arabia, said: “Jeddah gives our customers direct access to the world’s most important trade routes, supported by the infrastructure and capability to handle the largest container vessels serving global trade.”

The AE15 service now operates through the Suez Canal, following a structural change announced in July 2026. The change aims to improve transit times for cargo moving between Asia and Europe.

DP World is investing in South Container Terminal, including new equipment and automation, to improve cargo handling and support growing container volumes.