Emirati DP World Launches New Maritime Route Between Morocco and Europe

Marrakech – DP World, the Dubai-based port giant, announced on Thursday a new maritime service connecting Morocco to the United Kingdom and Northern Europe. Named “Atlas,” this service will link the Moroccan ports of Agadir and Casablanca to DP World’s terminals at London Gateway in Corringham, England, and Antwerp Gateway in Belgium.

The service will officially launch at an event in Agadir on September 18, with operations set to begin in November. Two dedicated vessels will operate the route, capable of transporting 150,000 tons of fresh produce annually from Morocco to Europe.

“We are launching a tailored solution connecting Morocco to the United Kingdom and the continent,” said Rashid Abdulla, CEO and Managing Director of DP World Europe.

“This service is built on three pillars: reliability, speed, and a modern IT platform, offering exporters and distributors an alternative to road transport while ensuring better product quality at optimized costs and significantly reduced CO₂ emissions,” he added.

The new maritime corridor promises to reduce transit time to the UK by nearly two days compared to traditional road transport. By shifting cargo from road to sea, the service will cut carbon emissions by up to 250 kg of CO₂ per ton-km, representing a 70% reduction compared to trucking goods over 3,000 kilometers.

Unlike road transport, this maritime route avoids traffic congestion, vandalism, and border delays. It also provides smoother handling for delicate products such as tomatoes and blueberries, which are particularly sensitive to road vibrations.

To maintain product freshness and quality, DP World has invested in a fleet of 1,250 new refrigerated containers. Additionally, 1,000 40-foot high-cube containers and 750 20-foot dry containers will support the growing demand for general cargo flows between Northern Europe, the UK, and Morocco.

Unifeeder, a DP World subsidiary, will operate the service using specialized refrigerated “reefer” containers. DP World’s digital platform CARGOES will provide full visibility and end-to-end supply chain tracking.

“DP World is committed to building smarter, more sustainable, and more resilient supply chains,” stated Markus Rodatz, Director of Freight Operations in Europe at DP World. “The new service gives producers and distributors confidence that their products will arrive fresher, faster, and in good condition, while reducing CO₂ emissions by 70%.”

Morocco currently exports over 6.5 million tons of fruits and vegetables to Western Europe annually, with growth exceeding 20% per year. According to British government data, Moroccan exports to the UK reached £566.4 million (MAD 6.9 billion ($690 million)) this season, representing 35% of total Moroccan exports to the UK.

The maritime service also provides a sustainable alternative to congested sea crossings between Tangier and Algeciras, or between Calais and Dover for freight destined for the UK.

DP World, a subsidiary of Dubai World, the Dubai government’s holding company, is the world’s third-largest port operator, managing 49 terminals from Latin America to Australia.