ALAN PEAT THE SHIPPING line CMA-CGM is currently focusing on its latest, streamlined service for exports from SA to the east coast of South America (ECSA), according to owner’s representative Agnes Carpentier. “We are ready to concentrate on developing a market in which we have not been very active up to now,” she told FTW, “and are re-emphasising that we are a main player on this trade as well.” This focus has been stimulated by a June revision of the line’s Durban-ECSA schedule – with an increase in the frequency from every-nine-days to a weekly service. The sailings are direct from Durban to Brazil and Argentina where it follows a port rotation of Sepetiba (“This is the new port for the Rio de Janeiro area,” said Carpentier); Santos; Buenos Aires; Rio Grande; and Paranagua before its return to Asia where its first port of call is Port Kelung. CMA-CGM also offers fast transit times with each voyage taking only 11-days from Durban to Sepetiba - followed by 13-days; 16-days; 18-days and 21-days for each of the other ports in the ECSA circuit of calls. “We have also achieved regularity in the service,” said Carpentier, “having a new choice of terminals at Durban and at ECSA ports and berthing windows at all the ports - which are maintained despite the frequent congestion at those in South Africa and South America.” For ECSA-bound cargoes from Cape Town, she added, pre-carriage is ensured with a weekly feeder connection to Durban.
