CMA CGM announces a second weekly service linking Australia and New Zealand with North America, enhancing its competitive edge in the market.
French shipping giant CMA CGM has announced the launch of its Kea service, a second weekly service linking Australia and New Zealand with North America, under a slot-charter agreement with Maersk, as reported by North Sydney's Daily Cargo News.
The Kea service will complement CMA CGM's existing PAD product, positioning the carrier as the only line offering two weekly departures on this trade route. Southbound calls will include New York, Philadelphia, Savannah, and Charleston, with Tauranga serving as an import stop. Northbound coverage will extend to Port Chalmers and Charleston.
The full rotation of the Kea service mirrors Maersk's OC1 service, beginning in early February with the 3,760 TEU Spirit of Melbourne. This inaugural vessel differs from Maersk's earlier announcement, which had designated the Oluf Maersk.
Under the charter agreement filed with the US Federal Maritime Commission, CMA CGM will purchase 350 TEU, equivalent to 4,900 tonnes, including 100 reefer plugs, per roundtrip sailing. Additional slots may be provided at Maersk's discretion. CMA CGM may sub-charter slots only to affiliates, such as its PAD partner Marfret, and remains responsible for any allocations.
Unused slots or reefer plugs will revert to Maersk free of charge. CMA CGM may utilize its allocation for intra-regional cargo moves, subject to operational and legal constraints.
Analysts suggest that this agreement is a defensive strategy against MSC's Eagle service, which launches on February 1 with 11 ships ranging from 2,556 TEU to 4,043 TEU and reefer capacity of 586 to 1,109 TEU. MSC has held slots on OC1 since 2011 and will continue until the end of January at a rate of 525 TEU per week in each direction.
