The CMA CGM Laperouse and CMA CGM Titan lead inaugural procession of the New Suez Canal

The CMA CGM Group, a leading worldwide shipping group, is pleased to announce that the CMA CGM LAPEROUSE and the CMA CGM TITAN are positioned at the head of the vessel procession during the New Suez Canal inauguration, on Thursday August, 6th.

The CMA CGM Group, the third largest container shipping company, has 11 of its main shipping lines transiting by the Suez Canal. As a key partner of the Canal, the Group had two of its vessels, the CMA CGM LAPEROUSE and the CMA CGM TITAN, sailing at the head of the inaugural procession.

8% of the world commercial exchanges go through the Canal, which represents 1 CMA CGM vessel on each direction of the Suez Canal every day. The geostrategic place of the Canal, located at the crossroads of the maritime lines serving the world’s main markets, draw the politics and international companies’ interests for this event.

On August 6th, Egypt celebrates the inauguration of the New Suez Canal with 5,000 prestigious guests. This major international event marks the completion of the 12 months works, initially expected to last from three to five years, during which the canal was doubled on 31 miles and enlarged on 22 miles.

The new Suez Canal works achievement within a year testifies of the President Al-Sissi’s “New Egypt” and of the Egyptian government’s will to anticipate the growing transits forecasts and vessels size increase. The CMA CGM Group has been crossing the canal since 1983 and expects to have more of its vessels transiting through Suez. 637 CMA CGM vessels have sailed the canal in 2014. 700 containerships, with a capacity that can reach 18,000 containers each, should be transiting by the Suez Canal in 2015.