NEW 6,500-TEU SHIP JOINS FLEET OF CMA CGM

REGULATORS APPROVE KALMER’S ACQUISITION OF NELCON    The CMA CGM Balzac, the first of a series of eight post-Panamax 6,500-TEU containerships ordered by CMA CGM, has entered the Asia/Europe service of the French shipping line in Shanghai.
   The vessel joined the FAL service of the carrier between Asia and northern Europe.
   The CMA CGM Balzac and three sister vessels to be delivered in the course of the year from the Hanjin and Daewoo shipyards have been contracted by CMA CGM on long term charter.
   Four similar vessels under construction at the same shipyards will complete the series by December 2001.
   CMA CGM said that, with the new 25.9-knot vessels, “considerable gains in transit time will be made.”
   The vessels have a nominal capacity of 6,447 TEU, a length of 300.4 meters and a width of 40.3 meters.