CMA CGM and APM in terminal deals

CMA CGM and APM Terminals have reached new terminal agreements in Dunkirk, Northern France and Mobile, Alabama, US.

In the port of Dunkirk, Northern France, Terminal Link, CMA CGM’s subsidiary dedicated to container terminal investment, has increased its shares in Nord France Terminal International (NFTI) from 30 percent to 91 percent through the acquisition of APM Terminals 61 percent share. The other nine percent remains owned by the Port Authority of Dunkirk.

NFTI operates a container terminal with super post-panamax gantry cranes providing its customers with direct road, rail and barge access to Northern France, Paris region and Central Europe. The port is an attractive operational choice for shipping lines with no deviation from the main shipping lane in the English Channel combined with a natural deep-water port.
CMA CGM is the main customer of NFTI operating four regular services to Dunkirk: the North Europe French West Indies (NEFWI), the French Asia Line 3 (FAL3), the Panama Direct (PAD service) and the Europe-Morocco service.

In the port of Mobile, Alabama, APM Terminals increased its shares in Mobile Container Terminal (MCT) from 80 percent to 100 percent through the acquisition of Terminal Link’s 20 percent share.

The state-of-the-art Gulf Coast gateway opened on November 6, 2008. At the intersection of five Class 1 railroads, with immediate access to Interstates 10 and 65, and located 30 miles from open ocean, MCT offers an enhanced option in the US Gulf for reaching midwest markets, as well as Alabama and neighbouring states.

MCT, operated and managed by APM Terminals, has a capacity of 350,000 TEUs and will be developed in phases to a capacity of 800,000 TEUs annually.

Services calling Mobile are CMA CGM’s Pacific Express 3 (PEX3), ZIM's Gulf Express and Maersk Line’s TA2 Service and Expresso Service.
(Source:www.cargonewsasia.com)