CMA CGM, K Line Team Up on NEW CIMEX 2E

Starting from mid-December, French container shipping company CMA CGM plans to launch China India Middle East Express 2E (NEW CIMEX 2E), a new service linking Asia to the East Coast of India, through a vessel sharing agreement (VSA) with Japanese shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line).

The firm said that the new service will replace former CIMEX 2E, operated through a slot charter agreement, with the last departure of M/V Sima Genesis from Busan, South Korea, on January 14 and the estimated time of arrival in Shanghai, China on January 17, 2017.

The NEW CIMEX 2E will have the following port rotation: Busan (South Korea), Qingdao, Shanghai, Shekou (China), Singapore (Singapore), Port Kelang WP (Malaysia), Chennai (India), Port Kelang, Singapore, Manila (the Philippines), Busan.

The new service will have a direct eastbound call in Manila, with the following transit times – Chennai will be reached in 17 days from Busan, in 15 days from Qingdao and in 13 days from Shanghai.

The service is expected to start with M/V Baltimore Bridge, with the estimated time of arrival in Busan on December 15.

Two of the vessels deployed on the route will have the capacity of 4,500 TEU and 4,900 TEU, with the names and the capacity of the remaining three ships yet to be revealed.

CMA CGM will provide four vessels and K Line one, M/V Baltimore Bridge.