CMA CGM and MAERSK LINE upgrade their service between the East Coast of South America, Central America and the Caribbean

CMA CGM and MAERSK LINE are pleased to announce the following improvements to their respective Brazilian Express Service (Brazex) and North Coast Express (NCX) connecting the East Coast of South America to Central America and Caribbean, effective second half of September 2009:

Ø Increased coverage in the Caribbean by extending the rotation up to Manzanillo, Panama and Pointe Lisas, in addition to the usual calls in Port of Spain (Trinidad), Cartagena (Colombia), Kingston (Jamaica) and Puerto Cabello (Venezuela).

Ø New ports of call in South America by extending rotation to Buenos Aires, Zarate (Argentina), Montevideo (Uruguay), and Rio Grande (South Brazil), on top of current Brazilian main ports already called.

Ø Increased reliability by deploying 8 vessels on this specific service, increasing our commitment of weekly Carrier on this Trade.

From this date, the two carriers will offer a single service operated with four vessels each with an average net capacity of 2800 teus.

The new rotation will be as follows : Buenos Aires - Zarate – Montevideo - Rio Grande – Itajai – Paranagua – Santos - Port of Spain- Cartagena - Manzanillo - Kingston - Puerto Cabello - Point Lisas - Vitoria - Santos - Buenos Aires

“This new VSA allows CMA CGM to further improve the quality of its service between the East Coast of South America and the Caribbean, Central America region. CMA CGM is now offering a wider range of ports and connections through its hub ports of Kingston, Port of Spain, Cartagena and now Panama.” explains Laurent Falguière, Vice-President Caribbean and Latin America Lines, CMA CGM Group.

The first sailing begins with the CMA CGM VITALITY in Buenos Aires, Argentina on September 20th, as a continuation of the current service.