French line to re-enter SA trade

Alan Peat PLANS FOR the launch of four new services by French line CMA-CGM will see the re-entry to SA of the CGM part of the name which was an old-time member of SAECS and then ran a multi-purpose service of its own before its disappearance some years ago. One of the new services in the line's international network - CMA-CGM is among the world's top ten container operators, and fourth largest shipping line in Europe - is between South America and Asia via SA. The line's entry to this trade will initially be through an agreement with Chile's CSAV, with CMA-CGM slot-chartering space on CSAV's vessels in the Good Hope Express (GEX) service. But, said the line's Marseilles head office, "with an option to introduce one or two ships later" - depending on demand. This means that - as of the mid-June launch date - CMA-CGM will be marketing a named-day, weekly service through a circular port rotation of Keelung-Yokohama-Ngoya-Kobe-Busan-Hong Kong-Singapore-Durban-Santos-Buenos Aires-Rio Grande-Paranagua-Rio de Janeiro-Santos and return eastbound. The SA agency arrangements are apparently still under discussion, but industry sources suggest that Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) is a most likely contender.