Hapag-Lloyd has announced the integration of the Port of Algeciras into its revamped Casablanca Spain Feeder (CSF) service, a crucial regional link that facilitates connections with the Moroccan port of Casablanca. This strategic modification, as detailed by maritime consultancy Alphaliner, enhances the commercial coverage of the service, which now also includes key Spanish ports such as Barcelona and Valencia.
In this new configuration, Hapag-Lloyd will leverage the fleet capacity of X-Press Feeders to efficiently operate this service, capitalizing on an existing regional network that already connects various Spanish and Moroccan ports. The inclusion of Algeciras marks a significant shift from the previous structure of the CSF, which primarily offered routes from Valencia to Casablanca and back, linking Casablanca to Barcelona and Valencia.
The presence of X-Press Feeders at Algeciras is well established, with the Port Authority of Vigo currently listing the Spain Portugal Xpress Service (SPX) as a weekly connection encompassing Valencia, Barcelona, Casablanca, Algeciras, and Tanger Med, in addition to other ports in Spain and Portugal. Furthermore, documentation released by X-Press Feeders in 2026 indicates that Algeciras will play a role in the Spain Portugal X-Press 1 service, which includes operations at TTI Algeciras and connections to various ports, such as Barcelona, Valencia, Casablanca, and Tanger Med.
This adjustment to the Casablanca feeder comes concurrently with Hapag-Lloyd's reorganization of its West Africa Express (WAX) service, which links the Mediterranean with several West African ports. The company has communicated that Casablanca will no longer be part of the main WAX rotation, with its cargo now being routed through a separate feeder service that connects to the main line via Valencia.
The revised WAX configuration includes stops at ports such as Damietta, Izmit, Gemlik, Istanbul, Valencia, and Tanger Med, before proceeding to key destinations in West Africa including Lagos, Onne, Cotonou, Tema, and Lomé. On the return leg, vessels will again call at Tanger Med and Barcelona before arriving back at Damietta.
While Hapag-Lloyd's official communication does not explicitly identify this new feeder service as the CSF or specify the operator responsible for its execution, the insights regarding the relationship between the revamped Casablanca Spain Feeder, X-Press Feeders, and the integration of Algeciras are supported by information attributed to Alphaliner. Notably, Hapag-Lloyd had already hinted at some of these changes in its operational documentation back in August, including the addition of Damietta to the WAX service and the removal of Casablanca from one of its line segments, alongside the integration of Valencia.
By incorporating Algeciras into the CSF, Hapag-Lloyd not only expands its regional service offerings connected to Casablanca but also maintains Valencia as a pivotal hub linking the feeder service to the West Africa Express, ensuring a seamless logistical flow between these critical maritime routes.
As reported by elestrechodigital.com.
