FRENCH shipping giant CMA CGM has announced new services linking the West African coast to its major ports in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and India.
West African coast: CMA CGM speeds expansion, increases ship size FRENCH shipping giant CMA CGM has announced new services linking the West African coast to its major ports in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and India. This involves the upgrading of existing services with optimum coverage, a new fleet, and improved transit times, said the Marseilles-based company, united with Maersk in the 2M alliance. The new Midas service calls at seven West African ports from India and Middle East offering optimum port coverage on the West African coast. CMA CGM offers an extended coverage in India and Nigeria thanks to new calls in Mumbai-Nhava Sheva and Apapa, near Lagos. CMA CGM offers the only direct service on the market between the African west coast, India, and Middle East. The line is operated in partnership with PIL. CMA CGM offers a new weekly call between northern Europe, Portugal and the West African coast with the upgraded EURAF 5, which is now weekly. New calls in Antwerp and Abidjan strengthen service coverage in northern Europe and Ivory Coast, offering among the best transit times on the market from Abidjan for fresh fruit exports. With the new strategy, CMA CGM have deployed thirteen 9,400-TEU ships from March 15 between the West African coast and Asia, the area's main trading partner. These vessels are the largest to call the African west coast and offer an optimum service in the market. This involves three new calls in Coega, near Port Elizabeth; Singapore and Tanjung Pelepas, upgrading ASAF's port coverage and creating more choice. CMA CGM has 74 offices in 43 and provides 27 direct services calling on African at 163 ports. CMA CGM has been operating in Africa since 2001 and employs today more than 1,400 collaborators on the continent.