CMA-CGM PLANS TO ENTER PACIFIC

   France’s CMA-CGM is planning to enter the transpacific trade by extending
one of its Europe/Asia services to the West Coast of North America.

   A spokesman for the French carrier said that studies for the new service
were very advanced and the plan could be implemented as early as June.

   The company plans to add five vessels to its 10-ship
Asia/Mediterranean/north Europe "NCJ" service to offer a weekly
"pendulum" link covering Europe, Asia and North America.

   The NCJ service currently calls at Kawasaki, Kobe and Hakata, Japan;
Inchon, Korea; Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao and Xiamen, China; and Port Kelang, Malaysia.