The CMA CGM GEORG FORSTER, CMA CGM Group's largest vessel, christened in Hamburg
The CMA CGM Group is pleased to announce that the CMA CGM GEORG FORSTER, the Group’s largest vessel, was christened today in Hamburg, Germany. The christening, in line with the great seafaring tradition, took place in presence of Jacques R. Saadé, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CMA CGM Group, of Mrs Christine Kuehne, the vessel’s godmother, and of many institutional and political representatives, partners and clients.
Latest of the CMA CGM fleet’s vessels, the CMA CGM GEORG FORSTER was delivered on June 2nd. She is, with her 398 meters length and 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent containers capacity, the Group’s largest vessel. She is the second of a 6 vessels of the same size series that will enter the fleet in 2015 and join the 460 vessels of the Group.
The CMA CGM Group is one of the world’s leading container shipping companies. In 2014, its carried volumes increased by 8.1%, up to 12.2 million TEUs, its revenue rose by 5.3% up to $16.7 billion and the Group realized one of the market’s best operating margins. The CMA CGM Group has had a continued growth and innovates to offer its clients new maritime, land and logistics solutions. The Group pursues its maritime development strategy by expanding its commercial network, by reinforcing its Reefer containers fleet, and by optimizing its maritime lines. The CMA CGM Group develops in the meantime a complementary offer to maritime transport.
Germany is a strategic market for CMA CGM that has called the country for 32 years and has been strengthening its presence there. In 2014, the Group’s vessels called German ports more than 1,500 times – including 1,100 calls in Hamburg – which represents more than 4 calls per day in a German port. CMA CGM Deutschland employs 300 staff members in 6 different offices. The CMA CGM office in Hamburg not only is the head office Germany, but it is also the regional one for Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
CMA CGM continues developing its presence in Germany, and finalized the acquisition of the German sea carrier OPDR on July 1st.
The CMA CGM GEORG FORSTER’s godmother, Mrs Christine Kuehne, closed the ceremony by launching the bottle of champagne that broke on the vessel’s hull and by stating the traditional sentence: ”I hereby christen this vessel CMA CGM GEORG FORSTER. God bless her and all those onboard”.