Russian and Danish Prime Ministers Vladimir Putin and Lars Lokke Rasmussen have visited the Maersk Niamey container vessel anchored in the Bolshoi port, St Petersburg. It is one of five vessels that will operate on the first direct ocean cargo route between South America and Russia (the ECUBEX service).

Vladimir Putin and Lars Lokke Rasmussen entered the captain's cabin in the container ship. Then Prime Minister Putin asked Prime Minister Rasmussen to switch on the siren announcing the line's opening.

The new line of transatlantic sea cargo transportations (the ECUBEX project) will pass through Guayaquil (Equador) - Panama Canal - Rotterdam - Bremerhaven - St Petersburg and will deliver goods from one continent to the other in just three weeks.