CMA CGM, APMT to operate Miami box terminal

CMA CGM, APMT to operate Miami box terminal    The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners has approved a 15-year agreement for APM Terminals North America, part of Denmark’s A.P. Moller – Maersk Group, and France’s CMA CGM Group, through its subsidiary Terminal Link (Miami) LLC, to jointly operate a common user container terminal at the Port of Miami.
   The terminal, located on a 71-acre site formerly held by APMT, will be operated by joint venture company South Florida Container Terminal (Terminal Link, 51 percent; APMT, 49 percent). It includes a 5,000-foot quay (of which, 2,000 feet are offered for priority berthing to the venture), eight gantry cranes (of which four are allocated for priority use by the venture), and a 40-foot draft to be deepened to 50 feet by 2015.
   The approved agreement, which is renewable for two five-year periods, represents a minimum total investment of $25 million toward terminal infrastructure upgrades and improvements, CMA CGM and APMT said in a joint release.
   Initially, the South Florida Container Terminal will service CMA CGM, which has five liner services calling at Miami, and Maersk Line, whose services account for the second highest throughput of all cargo carriers at the Florida port.
   “As of today, CMA CGM Group has invested in 24 container terminals worldwide, of which three are in the U.S., as part of its continued strategy aiming at securing berthing space for its vessels, and ensuring the speed and efficiency of its shipping operation. Miami is an integral part of our network and this endeavor continues to confirm our commitment to the U.S.,' said Farid T. Salem, CMA CGM Group chief executive vice president.
   Eric Sisco, president of APMT North America, said: 'APM Terminals continues to view Miami as a strategic fit into our North America and global terminal networks. We are pleased to expand our relationship with Terminal Link and CMA CGM in this joint venture, which we believe offers the right foundation for continued growth of the Port of Miami.”