CMA CGM to Enhance Its Europe-West Africa Coverage

French container shipping company CMA CGM is to upgrade its EURAF 4 and EURAF 5 services connecting Europe and West Africa by improving the EURAF 4 with weekly calls at Bata and Malabo and the EURAF 5 with a direct call in Cameroon, both effective July 26.

Within the new EURAF 5 service, the present service Equatorial Guinea Express will be discontinued as from MV GISELE A ETA Algeciras July 18, CMA CGM said.

In addition, direct service from West Mediterranean to Equatorial Guine will have shortened transit time up to six days. Bata will be reached from Livorno in 20 days, Malabo from Valencia in 19 days.

The EURAF 4 service port coverage will be as follows: Livorno – Genoa – Marseilles – Barcelona – Valencia – Algeciras – Tangiers – Lome – Bata – Malabo – Onne (fortnightly) – Port Gentil – Libreville – Douala – Lome NB (fortnightly) – San Pedro (fortnightly) – Algeciras – Livorno.

Under the new Vessel Sharing Agreement (VSA), the company will deploy six vessels of eight and the fleet will be upgraded from 2,500 TEU vessels to ships ranging from 3,100 to 3,500 TEU.

Apart from the direct call in Cameroon, the improvements on the EURAF 5 service will also include a direct service from North Europe to Douala with a fortnightly frequency combined with a shortened transit time by seven days. Douala will be reached from Antwerp in 28 days and from Le Havre in 29 days.

The new service will include direct transit time from Douala to Northern Europe – Northern France will be reached in 16 days and Antwerp in 17 days.

In addition, calls in Lobito and Namibe will have a fortnightly frequency and will alternate with Duoala.

The EURAF 5 service port coverage will be the following: Le Havre – Antwerp – Lisbon – Tangiers – Algeciras – Pointe Noire – Luanda – Lobito (fortnightly) – Namibe (fortnightly) – Douala (fortnightly) – Abidjan – Tangiers NB – Le Havre.

Image Courtesy: CMA CGM