The CMA CGM Group, a worldwide leading shipping group announced yesterday (Jan10) that it has taken delivery of the CMA CGM FORT DE FRANCE, the first of an order for four container ships dedicated to the French West Indies.
- A 3,500-TEU vessel equipped with 850 plugs for refrigerated containers
- A series of 4 new vessels sailing under the French flag and dedicated to the French West Indies
- The CMA CGM Group, an actor committed to the economic development of the French West Indies.
The CMA CGM FORT DE FRANCE, the first vessel of a renewed fleet dedicated to the French West Indies
With a capacity of 3,500 TEUs (Twenty-foot equivalent units) and a length of 219 meters, the CMA CGM FORT DE FRANCE stands out by its draft which is adapted to the West Indies ports. It is also equipped with a large number of plugs for refrigerated containers (“Reefers”) which allow the transport in optimal conditions of perishable goods such as bananas; 850 such containers can thus be installed on the ship.
Following the delivery of the CMA CGM FORT DE FRANCE, the Group will take delivery over the Spring and Summer of 2019 of three other vessels with identical features: the CMA CGM FORT ROYAL, the CMA CGM FORT SAINT CHARLES and the CMA CGM FORT FLEUR D’EPEE.
This owned fleet will sail under the French flag and will be deployed in replacement of the existing “Forts” on the North Europe French West Indies line. This service links Europe and Metropolitan France to Guadeloupe and Martinique, crossing the Atlantic Ocean in under ten days.
CMA CGM reaffirms its commitment for the economic development of the French West Indies
With this modernized fleet, CMA CGM significantly increases its service to the French West Indies while maintaining its quality, its reliability and its regularity. The Group thus demonstrates its commitment in favor of these overseas territories, particularly in favor of their economic development.
Testimony to this priority given to the French West Indies, the CMA CGM Group also renewed last November its transport contract with the UGPBAN, the professional association of banana producers of Guadeloupe and Martinique, until 2026. CMA CGM will thereby transport every year 270,000 tons of bananas from the French West Indies to Dunkerque, their port of arrival in Metropolitan France.
Source: CMACGM