Following transportando.net NEWS dated 01/06/01 where we duly informed the French Shipping Company CMA CGM was entering the North-South trades, joining as a slot charterer the alliance named I.C.A. ( Independent Carriers Alliance ) comprising Hanjin Shipping Co. , Montemar Lines, Senator Lines and Zim Israel Navigation Co. on the East Coast South America / U.S. East Coast,

The French liner shipping group CMA CGM is making South America one of its priorities in 2001; plus steps up its presence by opening a new weekly service linking Latin American ports to Asia (via South Africa).

CMA CGM is completing its current upgrade programme for the South American market by offering its customers a new service to/from Asia via South Africa with direct calls at Durban and East London by joining the Good Hope Express.

As from 3 June 2001, the group will dispose of a 150 teus allocation both ways on the Good Hope Express Service jointly operated by CSAV, NYK and Norsul. The consortium deploys 11 x 1600 teus containerships on a weekly fixed day service, with a rotation performed in 77 days calling : Pusan, Kobe, Nagoya, Yokohoma, Keelung, Hong Kong, Singapore, Durban, East London, Santos, Buenos Aires, Rio Grande, Paranagua, Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Durban, Singapore, Hong Kong, Pusan Montevideo (Uruguay) will be served via Buenos Aires. Transhipment to Indian Ocean via Durban

Durban becomes a strategic transhipment port considerably reinforcing CMA CGM's service offer to and from the Indian Ocean zone.

Reinforced by excellent financial results in 2000, CMA CGM The French Line has reached its initial objectives in terms of development and now Stands as one of the world's major players in liner Shipping. In the year ending 31 December 2000, total liftings have increased by 20 %, reaching 1,615,000 teus .

Offering a wide range of services far beyond the traditional port-to-port business, through partnerships and investment in port terminals, multimodal transport and supply chain management . Investing in a global information system covering the whole of its worldwide network . And preparing to regroup its workforce in a new Marseilles based head office to be delivered in June 2002.