CMA CGM revamps India and Middle East Gulf services to East Africa

Time:2016-07-20 Browse:81 Author:RISINGSUN
FRENCH shipping line CMA CGM is to reorganise its services connecting India and the Middle East Gulf to East Africa as part of its continuing efforts to increase service reliability.

With effect from mid-July, the Noura Express and Swahili services` new configuration will be upgraded. These include improved transits for reefer cargo from port Victoria to India and Europe, with a weekly frequency instead of fortnightly, and improved service reliability to Mogadishu from Mundra with a direct service in 18 days instead of via transshipment. 

There will also be an improved transit time from Jebel Ali to port Victoria of 18 days, reported The Maritime Standard of Dubai.

Noura Express will be operated with four vessels of 2,200 TEU. The existing call into Salalah will be dropped, and additional calls into Mundra and port Victoria will be added to the port rotation. The new port coverage will include Mundra, Khor Fakkan, Jebel Ali, Mombasa, Mogadishu, port Victoria and Mundra

The Swahili service that is operated with six vessels of up to 2,700 TEU and links India and the Middle East Gulf to Tanzania will be revised in order to better meet customers` need for service punctuality.

According to a statement from CMA CGM: "Very challenging operational conditions in Zanzibar, with heavy port congestion, has negatively impacted our scheduling. To restore the Swahili service`s reliability, the Mundra and port Victoria calls are being transferred to Noura Express which has sufficient buffer time."

The new weekly port rotation will commence on July 21, and will cover Nhava Sheva, Khor Fakkan, Jebel Ali, Longoni, Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar, with Nacala served on a fortnightly basis.