Fully operated by CMA CGM – without its Ocean Alliance partners – with a
string of 14 7,000 to 10,000 teu vessels, the service will call Kobe, Nagoya,
Yokohama, Xiamen, Yantian, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Southampton and Nansha, with the
inaugural sailing from Kobe on April 2 aboard CMA CGM Byblos.
From Yokohama, transit times to Rotterdam, Hamburg
and Southampton are quoted at 38, 41 and 45 days respectively; from Yantian the
service offers 32, 35 and 38 days. By avoiding transhipment and keeping cargo
on single‑ship strings, CMA CGM aims to lower risk of loss, boost on‑time
performance and accelerate time‑to‑market for shippers. The loop will transit
via the Cape of Good Hope and appears to be serviced solely by CMA CGM tonnage,
suggesting operation outside existing alliance structures.
Bo Wegener, CEO, CMA CGM Asia Pacific, said: “The launch of Ocean Rise
Express highlights the strategic importance of Asia‑Europe trade within CMA
CGM’s global network. The enhanced Asia‑Europe connectivity underscores our
commitment to delivering greater value and reliability to our customers, while
further strengthening our position as a trusted partner in global trade.”
The move comes as Japan’s Ocean Network Express discontinues its direct
Japan-Europe pendulum, meaning Japanese shippers faced transhipping to get
their goods to Europe.