APL joins CMA CGM’s transatlantic Victory Bridge service

The Singapore-based ocean carrier, the parent of which was acquired by CMA CGM earlier this year, will purchase slots on the French line’s Victory Bridge loop between Europe, the U.S. South Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.    APL will begin offering slots on CMA CGM’s Victory Bridge service, which connects ports in North Europe, the U.S. South Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, the company said Friday.
   The ocean carrier has dubbed the transatlantic loop the Atlantic Gulf Express (AGX) Service.
   CMA CGM earlier this year acquired APL’s parent company, Neptune Orient Lines, and recently began consolidating the existing transpacific businesses of its ANL and U.S. Lines subsidiaries between North America and Asia under the APL brand.
   Asked if APL will co-brand all CMA CGM services coming to the U.S., an APL spokesman said it “will evaluate and offer its services according to market demands as well as the resources we can leverage as part of the CMA CGM group.”
   According to ocean carrier and schedule database BlueWater Reporting, the Victory Bridge currently operates with six CMA CGM vessels with an average capacity of 4,226 TEUs. The service has a full port rotation of Le Havre, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Charleston, Savannah, Miami, Veracruz, Altamira, Houston, New Orleans, Miami and Le Havre.
   APL said the first sailing on which it will purchase slots and offer them as the AGX will commence from Le Havre on Oct. 2.
   “It promises industry-leading transit time between Europe and major US South Atlantic ports, and fast connections between the U.S. South Atlantic, U.S. Gulf and Mexico markets that serve the needs of the customers,” Eric Eng, APL head of transatlantic trade, said of the loop.