French shipping giant CMA CGM will begin operating a new short-sea service called MAESTRALE in early October, connecting ports in Malta, Albania, Croatia and Italy, reported Saint Petersburg's PortNews.

The MAESTRALE service, managed by CMA CGM's Short Sea Lines Division, will commence in Week 40, with the first sailing scheduled from Malta on October 5.

The weekly rotation will include calls at Malta, Durres, Rijeka, Salerno and return to Malta, offering direct maritime links across the central Mediterranean.

CMA CGM will deploy two vessels to maintain the weekly frequency of the service, aiming to strengthen regional connectivity and support short-sea logistics.

CMA CGM, based in Marseille, operates across container shipping, inland transport, air cargo, logistics and port terminal sectors.