New stop since August 20

The Port of Lisbon will now receive a new weekly stop from the NET2 service, which handles intra-European and Mediterranean traffic, operated in Portugal by Diamond Line, a subsidiary of COSCO Shipping Lines.

The inclusion of Lisbon in this new route offers more opportunities for Portuguese exports and strengthens trade relations with key markets, particularly in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Israel, Turkey, and Egypt. This represents another step in consolidating the Port of Lisbon as a key hub in international trade, capable of attracting new routes from international shipping companies.

The weekly rotation of the NET2 service, which stands out for its geographic reach, includes the ports of Haifa, Mersin, Iskenderun, Alexandria, Salerno, Casablanca, Lisbon, Felixstowe, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Piraeus. It also opens the possibility of cargo transfer in Lisbon between the Mediterranean's NET2 and the LUX/ESE2/EEX, the South American service, launched in 2023 and operated by a joint venture between ONE, COSCO, and OOCL.

This new service by Diamond Line directly connects Lisbon to the United Kingdom and Northern Europe, further solidifying the strategic position of the Port of Lisbon and Portugal on the international maritime trade route. The connection to Felixstowe, England, will take three days, while the journey to Hamburg, Germany, will take five, and to Rotterdam, Netherlands, seven days.

Carlos Correia, president of the Lisbon Port Authority (APL), emphasized that "the decision of NET2 to include Lisbon highlights its growing importance as a crucial hub for shortsea shipping operations in Europe, reflecting the Port of Lisbon’s commitment to continue promoting and facilitating global maritime trade by providing high-quality infrastructure and excellent service for all."

It’s worth noting that the Alcântara Container Terminal, recently modernized with a €140 million investment to improve operational conditions, recorded 38 stops for two consecutive months this year and saw a 20% growth in tons handled in July (181,000 tons) and a 22% increase in TEU (over 16,000 TEUs) compared to the same period in 2023.