CMA CGM enhances EURAF4 service

The French ocean carrier will add two vessels and several port calls its EURAF4 service between the Mediterranean and West Africa beginning July 18.    Ocean carrier CMA CGM will add two vessels and several Mediterranean port calls to its EURAF4 starting with the July 18 sailing of the Spirit of Cape Town from Malta.
   The revised port rotation of the EURAF4 will be Malta, Livorno, Genoa, Fos-sur-Mer, Barcelona, Valencia, Tanger, Cotonou, Lome, Port Gentil, Libreville, Tanger and Malta, CMA CGM said in a statement. The loop will operate with seven vessels between 2,200 TEUs and 2,700 TEUs.
   The upgrade is intended to directly connect West Africa to the West Mediterranean market, CMA CGM said.
   According to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting, prior to the upgrade, the EURAF4 service had a rotation of Tanger, Lome, Cotonou, Port Gentil, Libreville, Lome and Tanger. The loop operated with five vessels with an average capacity of 2,343 TEUs.
   In addition to the EURAF4, CMA CGM participates on four other dedicated services between the Mediterranean and West Africa. The carrier provides vessels on two of these services, the EURAF3 and WAZZAN. CMA CGM is a slot purchaser on the joint West Africa Service (WAS) operated by Arkas Line, Marguisa and ZIM and on Boluda Line’s Mediterraneo 1 string.
   CMA CGM also participates on three dedicated services in the Mediterranean and Europe to West Africa trade. The carrier provides vessels on its EURAF1 and EURAF5 loops and is a slot purchaser on the joint ARN/WAX service operated by MOL and Hapag-Lloyd, which it calls the EURAF2.