CSAV Norasia will launch a new weekly feeder service between its recently named Mediterranean hub at Malta and the northern Adriatic on May 21.

The Adriatic Link service will deploy the Liberia-flagged 868 teu feeder vessel Pioneer Lake, owned by Dr Peters, and will call at the ports of Ancona, Venice and Koper and Malta.

The service will link up with CSAV Norasia’s two Asia-Europe services: the Mare Nostrum service that runs between Asia and the Mediterranean, and the IMEX service that links the Indian sub-continent and Middle East with northern Europe via Malta.

Last month Malta Freeport won the contract to be the line’s Mediterranean hub against stiff competition from Gioia Tauro and Caligari, which the port said would be worth around 350,000 teu per year.