CMA-CGM PLANS NEW PACIFIC SERVICE, NEW SHIP ORDERS
CMA CGM, the recently-merged French shipping group, said that it is
studying the potential launch of a transpacific service between Asia and the U.S. East
Coast via the Panama Canal.
A spokesman for CMA CGM said that the addition of a U.S. East Coast
link would complement the company’s global service network.
CMA CGM entered the Pacific trade in April, when it launched a weekly
Asia/U.S. West Coast service.
The French carrier also announced that it plans to order eight
containerships of 6,100-TEU capacity for its Asia/northern Europe FAL service.
At present, the FAL service employs nine containerships of about
4,000-TEU capacity. A spokesman for CMA CGM said that the new ships will have a greater
service speed than the current ones.