CMA CGM, Hapag Lloyd and Hamburg-Süd to launch a new common service between the East Coast of South America and North Europe

CMA CGM, Hapag Lloyd and Hamburg Süd are pleased to announce the launch of a new direct service on the route between the East Coast of South America and North Europe. As of August 6th 2009, the lines will provide a joint weekly service of 2 loops, replacing their respective SAFRAN / SAEC services and featuring 3 major changes: • A rationalization of their capacity on this trade to better match the market evolution. | • An improved frequency with more vessels deployed as well as more competitive transit times. | • An enlarged and attractive port coverage with the introduction of two new port calls at Salvador de Bahia and Suape.

Vessels will run at eco-speed in order to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The rotation will be as follows: • Sling 1 : Rotterdam – Tilbury – Hamburg – Antwerp – Le Havre – Santos – Buenos Aires – Montevideo – Rio Grande – Santos – Suape – Rotterdam | • Sling 2 : Rotterdam – Hamburg – Antwerp – Le Havre – Sepetiba – Navegantes – Paranagua – Santos – Sepetiba/Rio de Janeiro – Salvador – Tangier – Rotterdam

Sling 1 will deploy 6 vessels of 5.900 TEU capacity (operated by Hamburg Süd) and Sling 2 will deploy 6 vessels of 2.800 TEU (4 operated by CMA CGM and its partner, 2 by Hapag-Lloyd).

“By undertaking this rationalization, CMA CGM and its partners are committed to keep delivering the best service along with an adapted capacity while improving cost and air emissions efficiency thanks to the eco-speed policy”, explains Jean-Yves Duval, Deputy vice-president Latin America Lines, CMA CGM Group.

The first sailings will be performed by HAMBURG SUD RIO NEGRO, calling Rotterdam on August 6th 2009 for Sling 1 and CMA CGM VIOLET calling Rotterdam on August 9th for Sling 2.