CMA CGM expresses interest in Ivory Coast terminal

   The liner carrier CMA CGM said Thursday it’s interested in investing in a terminal at the Port of Adbijan in the Ivory Coast.
   The carrier, however, said any investment it makes would be part of a consortium.
   “During a visit by CMA CGM senior executives to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, the group expressed to local authorities its interest in responding to the tender for the construction of a second port terminal,” CMA CGM said in a statement. “CMA CGM does not intend to participate in this project alone. It will invest as part of a consortium alongside other partners who would also finance the project.
   “If the consortium of which CMA CGM is a member is awarded the tender, the entire project would be completely finished four years from now. So far, the tender has not been launched and no bids have been submitted.”
   The line said Ivory Coast, located in western Africa, is a major market for it and subsidiary Delmas, which recently integrated OT Africa Line (another CMA CGM subsidiary).
   The 200-million to 250-million euro plans for Abidjan call for a tripling of current annual port handling capacity to about 2.3 million TEUs by 2016. – Eric Johnson