CMA CGM has informed customers that it has temporarily switched its Northern Europe and Mediterranean to Australia (Nemo) service to sail around Africa due to the continued conflict in the Red Sea.
This comes after the French line initially advised customers in early January that some of its vessels would continue to transit the Red Sea and that it was devising plans to gradually increase the number of vessels transiting the Suez Canal.
The French Navy released photographs showing CMA CGM and APL container vessels transiting the Red Sea under escort by a warship last weekend, while the Suez Canal Authority said some 44 vessels had sailed the route last Saturday.
CMA CGM chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé told the Financial Times at the time that the line would continue to sail via the Red Sea when its vessels could be escorted. However, he said this would be on a case-by-case basis, adding that the line’s sailing schedules were in “complete disarray” and some vessels were having to sail around Africa as an alternative route.
However, in a notice on Friday, CMA CGM advised customers that it was temporarily altering its route to avoid the region.
“Due to recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea region, CMA CGM Group is taking contingency measures on several services usually crossing the Suez Canal to ensure the safety of its vessels and their crews navigating these waters.
“In that respect, please note that the Nemo Service will temporarily stop crossing the Suez Canal and go via the Cape of Good Hope, both ways,” the shipping line noted.
CMA CGM added that it was now also providing a direct fixed-day weekly service connecting Europe with Reunion, Mauritius and Australia and from Australia to Singapore, Colombo and Ennore.
Saadé told the Financial Times that there did not appear to be a solution to the Red Sea conflict and that the line expected the security concerns to last several months.
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and many other lines are also completely avoiding the Red Sea and Suez Canal due to the conflict.
