CMA CGM Christophe Colomb 100th Giant Of The Seas To Call At Le Havre

A symbol of the recovery in international trade, the CMA CGM Group’s flagship and the world’s largest French-flagged containership is today the 100th vessel of more than 10,000 teus to call at Le Havre.

First in a series of eight vessels named after great explorers, this state-of-the-art giant of the seas boasts exceptional dimensions: 365.5 m long with a beam of 51.2 m – equivalent to four football pitches. She can transport up to 13,800 teus.

The CMA CGM Christophe Colomb is deployed on the FAL 5 (French Asia Line), the main CMA CGM Group service on the Asia-Europe trade, calling at Le Havre every week with the following rotation: Ningbo, Shanghai, Yantian, Tanjung Pelepas, Port Kelang, Le Havre, Rotterdam (inbound), Hamburg, Rotterdam (outbound), Zeebrugge, Port Kelang, Singapore and Ningbo.

Since its introduction last July, the service has proved to be exceptionally reliable with 100% of European calls being made on time, as announced to customers. To further enhance its attractiveness, this service will now arrive in Le Havre on Sunday nights to enable delivery of the first containers on Monday mornings.

Le Havre is CMA CGM’s main European port of call, with over 21 shipping services calling here every week from across the world: Asia, Africa, USA, Europe, South America, the Caribbean, etc.

“Ideally located on major shipping routes serving Europe, and connected to intermodal transport - road, rail and river - Le Havre is one of CMA CGM’s main ports. The high productivity at Terminal de France which welcomes our giants of the seas makes this terminal one of the most attractive in Europe,” explains Nicolas Sartini, Senior Vice-President Asia-Europe Lines.

Like all its new vessels, and in line with the Group’s commitment to the environment and sustainable development, the CMA CGM Christophe Colomb integrates a range of eco-friendly technologies that actively limit the carbon and environmental footprint of the goods she carries. They include: -- an electronic injection engine, which significantly reduces fuel and oil consumption -- double-hull protection for the fuel tanks -- the Fast Oil Recovery System, an innovative process for preventing marine pollution -- a twisted leading edge rudder, and a Pre-Swirl Stator ® optimizing the ship’s hydrodynamics -- a multi-chamber waste compactor to make the most of recycling channels on shore -- all necessary provisos to install equipment required to connect to a port’s electricity supply during operations.

Another feature is her superstructure, located at the front to maximize the use of space while providing greater visibility from the bridge. A second superstructure at the rear houses the exhaust system and technical rooms. Finally, like most of the Group's vessels, the CMA CGM Christophe Colomb has a number of cabins designed to welcome passengers (two staterooms on this flagship).

Making Terminal de France a regular port of call for the CMA CGM Christophe Colomb further demonstrates CMA CGM’s strong desire to confirm Le Havre as its main port in North Europe.

Presence of CMA CGM in Le Havre CMA CGM has been present in Le Havre for many years. Its agency and its subsidiary Delmas, the Africa specialist, are based in Le Havre, and employ more than 600 people on site.

The Group has also developed its port activities through its subsidiary GMP (Générale de Manutention Portuaire) and is today the Port of Le Havre’s number one customer. CMA CGM won the concession in 2003 to operate the Terminal de France, which was launched in 2006. As part of the extension of Port 2000, and to be able to welcome in the best conditions these new giants of the sea, Terminal de France took delivery this summer of 10 super post panamax gantry cranes for a quay length of 1,050 meters.

Ideally located on the major shipping routes serving Europe, Le Havre is also connected to all intermodal means of transport: road, rail and inland waterways. CMA CGM can offer its customers many intermodal transport solutions to destinations all over Europe: -- Rail Link Europe, the CMA CGM Group subsidiary specializing in rail transport offers 5 weekly rail services from Le Havre: Le Havre-Lyon, Le Havre-Dourges, Le Havre-Marseille, Le Havre-Ludwigshafen, and Le Havre-Antwerp. -- River Shuttle Containers, a subsidiary of the CMA CGM Group specializing in river transport offers 3 services by barge on the Seine from Le Havre several times a week: Le Havre-Paris (Gennevilliers) 3 times a week, Le Havre-Limay 3 times/week and Le Havre-Rouen twice a week

Key Figures Staff: 645 people (31 October 2010). Number 1 customer of Le Havre.

21 services from CMA CGM Group to call at Le Havre, including 8 to Terminal de France: FAL1, FAL2, FAL 3, FAL 5 (Asia-Europe). Around the World (North Europe-US-Panama-Pacific). NAF (Northern Europe, North Africa). FEEDER UK WC (Belgium - France - UK - Ireland). FEEDER ATLANTIC.

Port concession: through Générale de Manutention Portuaire (GMP), a subsidiary of Portsynergy, a joint venture between P&O Ports and CMA CGM.