CMA CGM inaugurates new logistics platform in Cameroon

THE CMA CGM Group has inaugurated a new logistics platform in Douala, Cameroon.

According to the company, the 3CTC platform, concessioned for 25 years has been operational since January 7th, 2015.

The terminal is located in a strategic area between Douala and the port, where it occupies two hectares.

A statement issued by the company explained that the new platform reinforces the Group’s presence in Cameroon, adding that its vessels call Douala twice a week, “offering Cameroon industrials imports and exports solutions with the entire world. The CMA CGM Group has the ambition to become a big player in Cameroon’s development, today more than ever”.

The statement said: “The 3CTC platform illustrates CMA CGM land development strategy. With CCIS – CMA CGM Inland Services – its one and unique entity created to accompany this strategy, the Group opened a platform in Dakar, Senegal, last year, and has developed 14 terrestrial hubs, creating transport corridors between land locked and coastal countries”.

Vice Chairman of the CMA CGM Group, Rodolphe Saadé, said: “This inauguration shows our determination to reinforce our presence in Africa and to develop both our inland and logistics activities there. It also confirms our desire to become a major player in Cameroon’s economic growth”

The CMA CGM Group has been in sub-Saharan Africa, where it has 1,300 employees in 72 offices, since 2001. Present in 43 countries, the Group counts 27 direct maritime services joining the continent to the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, CMA CGM and Hamburg Sud, with UASC will make a transatlantic debuts in May along New Asia-Caribbean-Europe.

The weekly service will deploy fifteen 4,000-5,000-TEU ships, with nine from CMA CGM, five from Hamburg Sud and one from United Arab Shipping Company (UASC).

The service will rotate through Qingdao, Ningbo, Shanghai, Busan, Cartagena (Columbia), Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, New York, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Le Havre, Southampton, New York, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Cartagena and back to Qingdao.

UASC, will debut on the north Atlantic, covering the USEC – north Europe – USEC leg of the service, with a weekly slot allocation of 660 TEU. 

For CMA CGM, the transatlantic leg of the service will replace the carrier’s standalone Liberty Solo service. 

Called a stopgap service by Alphaliner, the French line launched its Liberty Solo loop in January, using five ships of 1,700 – 2,100 TEU, rotating through Antwerp, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Le Havre, New York, Norfolk, Savannah, Charleston, New York and back to Antwerp.