June 1 - OT Africa Line (OTAL)part of the CMA CGM group, has strengthened its position in the Europe/West Africa trade with the launch of a new direct service to Cape Verde and Mauritania. The line says that the new fortnightly link is geared to importers

The full service schedule comprises calls at Antwerp, Rouen, Leixoes, Tangiers, Nouakchott, Dakar (on request) Praia, Mindelo, Nouadhibou and return to Antwerp, with multipurpose vessels of about 14,000dwt (600/700TEU maximum loading capacity) being deployed.

In Europe, OTAL will make full use of its established hubs and connecting carrier arrangements to extend the service into the Baltic/Scandinavia, UK and Ireland. OTAL will also use Tangiers, Morocco, as a relay hub for the western Mediterranean.