French container shipping group, CMA CGM (Compagnie Générale Maritime) has announced a restructuring of its CIMEX 1 line service between Asia and the Middle East, effective tomorrow.
The new CIMEX 1 service will be jointly operated by CMA CGM, China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) and the United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) with seven vessels of a capacity ranging from 12,500 to 14,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (teus).
The new service is a significant step for maritime transport worldwide, as it marks the first time vessels of such capacity (14,00 tues) have been employed on a market other than Asia – Europe.
The CIMEX 1 will replace two existing services:
- CIMEX / AMA for CMA CGM and China Shipping Container Lines, which currently operate 8,500 teus vessels
- AGX for the United Arab Shipping Company which currently operates with 3,600 tues vessels.
The shipping route will follow this sequence:
Tianjin, Dalian, Pusan, Shanghai (YangShan Terminal), Ningbo, Shekou, Port Klang, Khorfakkan, Jebel Ali, Port Klang, Nansha, then back to Tianjin.
The new service will enable CMA CGM to have increased port coverage, while reducing its operating costs.
No additional capacity will be gained from the new service, as it replaces two existing services.
On the Asia – Europe market, CMA CGM will maintain its presence with the FAL 2 service operated with 10 vessels of 12,500 / 14,000 teus.
Two calls at Jeddah (east and westbound) will be added to the existing service. CMA CGM says the new calls will not impact on transit times, especially for Le Havre and Rotterdam.
Image: CMA CGM's Medea in port. Image credit: Ships & Yacht Info online