CMA CGM expands service coverage between Europe and the Indian Ocean Islands

CMA CGM Group and its subsidiary DELMAS are pleased to announce the launching, end of November 2008, of a new weekly service dedicated to the Indian Ocean Islands.

Mascareignes Express - Operated from Djibouti, with 4 vessels with nominal capacity of 1700 TEU, Mascareignes Express will provide enlarged port coverage in the Indian Ocean, offering weekly calls in Port Victoria (Seychelles), Pointe des Galets (Reunion), Port Louis (Mauritius), Tamatave (Madagascar) and Longoni (Mayotte).

The service will guarantee new transport opportunities between North Europe, the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, thanks to weekly direct connections in Djibouti on CMA CGM’s EPIC (Europe, Pakistan, India) and MEX (Mediterranean, Asia) services.

. From North Europe, cargo will be transported via the EPIC service calling in : Southampton, Hamburg, Antwerp, Le Havre, Port Saïd, and Djibouti.

. From the Mediterranean, cargo will be transported via the MEX service calling in : Valencia, Barcelona, Fos, Genoa, Malta, Damietta, and Djibouti.

For Dominique Petit and Denis Laure, in charge of Asia / Africa lines at CMA CGM and DELMAS, « this new service enables CMA CGM Group to provide its customers with improved port coverage on the Europe/Indian Ocean market, with calls in the major North Europe and Mediterranean ports, and in the main Indian Ocean Islands”.

This new development coincides with the opening in Djibouti of a new dedicated agency, CMA CGM DJIBOUTI. It reflects CMA CGM’s commitment to serving its customers in the Europe/Indian Ocean trade with ever-improved shipping services.

About CMA CGM - Led by its founder Jacques R. Saadé, CMA CGM is currently the world’s third largest container shipping company and is ranked number one in France. Operating a fleet of 400 vessels, including 100 company-owned, the Group serves 400 ports of call around the world. In 2007 it carried a total of 7.7 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). With a presence on all continents and in 150 countries through its network of 650 agencies, the Group employs 16,500 people including 4,200 in France.