French container line CMA CGM has announced imminent changes to its PCRF line service which links Northern Europe with the French West Indies, by adding two new calls at Zeebrugge and Rotterdam and increasing freight capacity on the route.
The company says this will mean customers will benefit from the enhanced import and export cargo opportunities.
During the first quarter of 2016, PCRF line’s capacity which links the French West Indies to Europe will be increased by replacing current 2,200 TEU capacity vessels by 2,800 TEU capacity vessels.
This move supports regional growth of both the French Indies market, currently around 3%, and promotes intra-Caribbean trade developments.
From April 2016, the French West Indies will be linked each week to the ports of Zeebrugge and Rotterdam, on the PCRF line.
By adding two calls, CMA CGM offers new export and import solutions to its clients in the French West Indies. Indeed, transshipment connections are offered towards worldwide markets in these strategic North European ports.
The new rotation will be: Dunkirk, Zeebrugge, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Montoir de Bretagne, Pointe à Pitre, Fort de France, Pointe à Pitre, Dunkerque.
CMA CGM has been a major actor in the French West Indies market for several decades. The Group has built a diversified and extremely reliable service offer dedicated to this area. Five lines connect the French West Indies to the rest of the World: the PCRF and Mediterranean Caribbean services offer direct connections to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean Sea, and 3 regional services offer transshipment solutions reaching the whole sub region.
CMA CGM West Indies and Guyana Lines Central President Guillaume Lathelize observes: “CMA CGM is an historical actor within the West Indies shipping industry. The Group has constantly developed dedicated services to this area. The PCRF line is a key example, serving the French West Indies from Northern Europe.
Increasing vessels’ size on this line will not only support regional growth, but will also develop our transhipment activity in Pointe à Pitre and Fort de France, two [of the] Group’s hubs, serving surrounding markets such as the lesser Antilles and Northern Latin America. New calls in Zeebruge and Rotterdam will offer new export and import solutions for the domestic market as well as transhipment”
