CMA CGM has announced the introduction of two new calls to its service linking Morocco and southern France, with Casablanca and Marseilles to be added to the rotation from 29 October.
According to the group, the enhanced service will allow CMA CGM to optimise its coverage of the wholesale fruit and vegetable market in southern France, while responding to the growing demand coming from agricultural exporters in northern Morocco.
In addition, the rotation will now offer a door-to-door service from the packaging facilities in Morocco to the different importers' warehouses in southern France, and also provides an eco-friendlier maritime alternative to the transport of fruit and vegetables by road via Spain.
The service will deploy two vessels of a nominal capacity of 1,000 TEU equipped with 250 reefer plugs, and will operate on a rotation of Casablanca, Agadir, Port-Vendres, Marseilles, Barcelona, Valencia, Tangiers and Casablanca.
'With this new service, CMA CGM will be able to provide Moroccan exporters with a maritime alternative to road transportation for fresh fruit and vegetables going to Marseilles, the only coastal city where they are delivered by truck, proving once again CMA CGM's unwavering commitment to customer needs,' said Philippe Borel, vice-president of short lines for North Africa services at the group.
To support the optimisation of the service, CMA CGM has invested in the acquisition of 200 45ft high-cube reefer containers with a storage capacity of 33 pallets, equivalent to the capacity of a reefer truck.
The enhanced service begins its rotation in Marseilles with the departure of the CMA CGM Casablanca on 29 October.
