Changes To Container Shipping Route By CMA CGM

FRANCE – US – MEXICO – Premier French container shipping line CMA CGM advise customers that from the 17th October there will be changes to the New Victory Bridge service linking North Europe to the US South Atlantic, Mexico and the US Gulf. Launched in partnership with CSAV, this service previously operated in cooperation with MSC and will deploy five vessels of 3,000 TEU’s.

Three of the ships are from the CMA CGM fleet the other two being CSAV vessels. CMA CGM tell us the service will strengthen the company’s presence on the US Mexico trade route as there are now extra calls in both Rotterdam and Miami. The service will also provide the shortest transit times on the market both Eastbound and Westbound between North Europe and Mexico (Altamira / Antwerp in 16 days against 21 previously) and between North Europe and US South Atlantic (both Bremerhaven / Charleston and Miami / Le Havre in 9 days).

The service responds to an increased demand for reefer capacity on the route and consistent freight levels and offers optimal coverage of the Mexican market and two weekly departures from Mexico. The ports of Savannah and Felixstowe, included in the previous rotation, will now be served through CMA CGM’s Round the World and Liberty Bridge services and the rotation of the New Victory Bridge service will be as follows:

Le Havre - Antwerp - Rotterdam - Bremerhaven - Charleston - Miami - Vera Cruz - Altamira - Houston - Miami - Le Havre.

Jean-Philippe Thenoz, Senior Vice President North America Lines, CMA CGM Group explained the company’s reasoning thus:

“The New Victory Bridge service has been running according to market expectations for many years, providing CMA CGM’s customers with reliable and regular schedules. With this optimization, the Group will provide the best transit times of the market from Mexico and US South Atlantic to North Europe, thus ensuring optimal service quality especially for the transport of refrigerated goods, particularly sensitive to travel times”