Terminal Investment Limited (TIL), the ports arm of top liner Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC), has struck a deal with Denmark’s largest commercial port, Aarhus, to establish a new container terminal. The Swiss-based liner giant, led by the Danish CEO Søren Toft, will move into the port’s Ominterminal area, set to be fully developed by 2027, where TIL will lease about 170,000 sq m for its own facility. Aarhus is the largest container port in Denmark, handling more than 70% of the country’s container traffic. APM Terminals already operates a terminal at Aarhus capable of handling 20,000 teu ships, and reports from Denmark suggest the Maersk-owned ports business has been challenging MSC’s expansion at the port where its Danish headquarters are already located. From the end of January next year, MSC is ditching Maersk in the 2M vessel sharing agreement to largely go it alone, and Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd subsequently exiting THE Alliance to join the Danish carrier in what will be called the Gemini Cooperation. MSC revealed to clients earlier this month the make-up of its standalone services that is significantly different to Maersk/Hapag’s when it comes to Danish coverage. In 2025, Aarhus will still see MSC calling the port directly from Asia, while Maersk will no longer do so when the Gemini partnership comes into force. “Port of Aarhus offers a good location for the future network plans we have made. We will be introducing a direct mainliner between Asia and Aarhus next year, and in combination with our own terminal, we can provide our customers with a practical logistics solution,” MSC chief executive Toft said. Toft added that MSC is also looking at other routes that could have a “positive impact on Danish business” in the longer term and that the company would consider further investment when new areas are developed at the port. Commenting on the new deal, which will see Denmark’s two largest container terminals located in Aarhus, the port’s CEO, Thomas Haber Borch, added, “This provides businesses with more opportunities to trade with the world, strengthens our competitiveness, and reinforces our role in ensuring Danish supply to the benefit of businesses and Denmark.” googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsDenmark Maersk MSC Switzerland