The CMA CGM Group announced Monday it is simplifying its trans-Pacific trade network.
As of Oct. 1, CMA CGM will become the group’s exclusive commercial carrier on the trans-Pacific trade, while APL will focus on its work for the U.S. government.
“All of our commercial cargo going forward on the trans-Pacific will move on a CMA CGM bill of lading. APL will focus all of its efforts on serving the United States government. We operate nine U.S.-flagged ships for the U.S. government today and we do a lot of projects with them. The APL brand will continue that segment — military cargo, government cargo and U.S. commercial cargo to Guam and Saipan,” said Ed Aldridge, president of CMA CGM and APL in North America.
France-based CMA CGM acquired Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), the parent company of APL, in 2016.
“We are leveraging the very best of CMA CGM and APL, two major carriers in the U.S., to bring our customers an even more focused and streamlined customer experience,” he said. “This simplification fortifies the group’s No. 1 position in the country while enabling us to build upon APL’s rich heritage of U.S. flag-ship operations and service to the United States government.”
NOL will be renamed CMA CGM Asia Pacific Ltd. ANL Container Line will become a subsidiary of CMA CGM Asia Pacific, which also will oversee the operations of intra-Asia short-sea services provider CNC. Singapore will serve as the regional hub for the group.
Aldridge said trans-Pacific trade customers wanted clear service paths laid out.
“Our customers have been asking for clarification of our service offerings. We were operating two competing brands on a major trade,” he said. “Effective today, our organizations are blended now. We’re one.
“I think this will allow us in a much more efficient manner to really work with our customers to go wider and deeper and deliver these tailored, customized solutions,” Aldridge said.
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