New appointee strengthens CMA CGM’s regional clout

THE SHIPPING line CMA CGM has increased its focus on Western Cape seafreight, offering a worldwide transhipment network directly to the Cape shipping market, according to Pamela Yerushalmy, GM (commercial) of CMA CGM Shipping Agencies. “In a comprehensive cross-trade service in Cape Town, we are offering more than 150 global loading ports and destinations for cargo to-and-from the Western Province marketplace.” CMA CGM Shipping Agencies has ISS Voigt Shipping as its appointed sub-agent in the Mother City – handling operations and the freight desk function. “But,” Yerushalmy added, “CMA CGM now has its own sales representative in Cape Town taking care of all commercial activity – and interfacing with Cape-based shippers. “Aida Perumal, experienced in liner shipping agency activity, is now well versed in the CMA CGM X-Trade, and is based at the ISS Voigt office in Plattekloof.” The line also has a keen eye on achieving a streamlined flow of cargo to-and-from the ports on its international network. According to Yerushalmy, transit speed is maintained with export cargoes shipped on through bills of lading (BoL) on the first carrier out of Cape Town for Europe, where it is fed into CMA CGM’s global services. “A particular strength has developed here,” she added, “with the Caribbean a prime destination for foodstuffs and beverages from the Cape. “But it also offers a whole range of other alternative destination ports – from Iceland to Toronto.” For imports to the Cape, the reverse procedure is followed – with the cargo brought into transhipment hubs in Europe on the CMA CGM global service network and loaded onto the second carrier bound for Cape Town. Using the Port of Durban for all in- and out-bound calls, CMA CGM Shipping Agencies also offers various other services – including Asia, East Coast South America (ECSA), India, the Middle East and West Africa.