Qatar Navigation (Milaha) is to launch its first boxship service in Europe.

The company will start a direct run linking the Black Sea and Mediterranean, it said in a statement cited by Bloomberg.

This will connect Greece, Turkey, Georgia and Russia.

Ports are Athens, Istanbul, Poti and Novorossiysk.

Milaha will use two 1,700-teu ships that can also carry 300 reefer boxes.