The CMA CGM Group, the world’s third largest container shipping company, has announced the signature of three major agreements with China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) and United Arab Shipping Company (UASC).
Under the name of Ocean Three, the agreements concern maritime trades including Asia-Europe, Asia-Mediterranean, Transpacific and Asia-United States East Coast, and are all pending authorization from the FMC (Federal Maritime Commission).
The agreements (a combination of Vessel Sharing Agreements, Slot Exchange Agreements and Slot Charter Agreements) will complete the CMA CGM offering on the biggest global maritime markets, including:
- On the Asia-Europe trade: Four weekly services, which complete the two existing services, thereby offering six departures per week.
- On the Asia-Mediterranean trade: Four weekly services, two to the Mediterranean, one to the Adriatic and one to the Black Sea the only one on this market.
- On the Transpacific: Four weekly services to California and one service to the Pacific Northwest (United States and Canada).
- On the Asia-US East Coast trade: One service via the Suez Canal and one service dedicated to the Gulf of Mexico.
The agreements on the Transatlantic trade are being finalised and will soon be announced.
According to CMA CGM, the new offering will combine speed and reliability, while rotations will be optimised with calls in all the biggest Asian, European and North American ports, using transshipment hubs common to the three partners.
The number of weekly calls proposed and the transit times will be 'among the best on the market, thereby responding to the expectations of our clients', the company added.
“We are very pleased to have signed these three agreements with such reputable partners, whom we both know and appreciate,' explained Rodolphe Saadé, CMA CGM vice-chairman. 'This will allow us to propose to our clients a high quality and reliable alternative to existing services on the market. CMA CGM will continue its global development.”
