CMA CGM adjusts Americas loop

The French ocean carrier will modify its Brazil Express loop between South America, Central America and the Caribbean at the end of the month.

   Ocean carrier CMA CGM will adjust its Brazil Express loop between South America, Central America and the Caribbean with the Sept. 29 sailing of the Tim S from Vitoria, according to the carrier’s online service schedules.
   The new rotation of the loop will be Vitoria, Santos, Navegantes, Paranagua, Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador di Bahia, Cartagena (Colombia), Manzanillo (Panama), Kingston, Macaba, Manaus, Macaba and Vitoria.
   Once the new rotation takes effect, the Brazil Express will operate with seven vessels on a total rotation time of 49 days, with the exception of the Sept. 29 voyage which will slow steam one extra week, according to CMA CGM.
   Maersk Line’s subsidiary SeaLand purchases slots on the loop, dubbing it the ACX.
   SeaLand said in a statement that although the updated loop will not include Montevideo, Buenos Aires or Rio Grande, the ports will be offered through its transshipment service, which has a rotation of Santos, Navegantes, Montevideo (bi-weekly), Buenos Aires, Rio Grande and Navegantes.
   The Brazil Express currently has a rotation of Suape, Vitoria, Santos, Rio Grande, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Zarate, Navegantes, Paranagua, Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador di Bahia, Cartagena (Colombia), Manzanillo (Panama), Kingston, Macapa, Manaus, Macapa, Suape and Vitoria.
   According to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting, the loop currently operates with eight vessels, all from CMA CGM, with an average capacity of 2,933 TEUs. Maersk Line, Hamburg Sud, its subsidiary Alianca, and CMA CGM subsidiary Delmas purchase slots on the Brazil Express in addition to SeaLand.
   SeaLand did not mention it would call Macaba or Salvador di Bahia with the new rotation. Although CMA CGM’s schedules currently illustrate the new, upcoming rotation, all slot purchasers’ schedules are not currently updated to reflect the future changes.