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Leading ocean carrier Maersk Line has announced changes to its Asia to Europe services following the recent surge in the price of marine fuel.

In early July the AE5, AE7, AE2, and AE8 services will undergo minor changes in order to remove capacity from the company's network whilst improving cost efficiency. The company will reduce space by 2,000 FFE (forty-foot equivalent) per week whilst keeping all corridors served in the network.

In a company statement, Maersk Line said "Fuel costs are increasing significantly and we find it necessary to take measures to ensure the sustainability of our services."

Amongst the changes Maersk Line has decided to suspend the AE5 service and the AE8 will take over the coverage of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The last AE5 call in Kaohsiung will be the Maersk Malacca on 5 July 2008. Thereafter the AE8 will serve this port.

The company will also adjust the sailing speed of the AE7 service on the eastbound sailings as of 8 July 2008 when the Ella Maersk departs from Rotterdam.

The AE2 will have a changed rotation in North China and Korea. Maersk Line says the revised port rotation will offer customers a reduction of four days in transit times between Kwangyang, South Korea and ports in North Europe. Furthermore, cargo for the Chinese ports of Dalian, Xingang, and Qingdao will arrive and depart one day earlier than the current schedule.

Maersk Line says customers will not experience any major changes as the AE services will continue to serve the same corridors as today.