CMA CGM Sets Up New Mediterranean Service

French container shipping major CMA CGM has launched Marmara Express, a new service linking the Eastern and Western Mediterranean Sea. 

The new service directly links Turkey, Spain, France, Greece and Italy, CMA CGM said.

The Marmara Express service is said to answer the recent growth of trade between Turkey and the Western Mediterranean countries.

The ports of the Sea of Marmara, which are located in the North of Turkey between the Aegean and the Black Sea, are now directly connected to Italy, Spain and France with the following transit times – Valencia is reached in 5 days from Aliaga, 8 from Barcelona, and in 10 from Fos-sur-Mer, according to CMA CGM.

“This new connection is also an efficient link for goods arriving in Spain from Western Africa, South America and the United States, which are for Turkey and Greece,” the company said.

Three 2,500 TEU vessels operate the following rotation: Valencia, Castellon, Barcelona (Spain), Fos sur Mer (France), Thessaloniki (Greece), Istanbul, Izmit, Gemlik, Aliaga (Turkey), Cagliari (Italy) and Valencia.