CMA CGM will continue to expand in North America with a customer service calling at the Port of Oakland.
The Golden Gate Bridge (GGB) service, previously Seapriority Express, will call at the Port of Oakland on its route from Shanghai and Yantian, China – bypassing the congested Port of Los Angeles and enhancing efficiencies for customers.
President of CMA CGM America and APL North America Ed Aldridge said calling at Oakland first from Asia “will help meet market demand,” whilst relieving pressure on Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports.
“We are always looking for new ways to provide our customers with differentiated services, fast transit times and efficient access to their inland destinations,” Aldridge added.
“CMA CGM looks forward to partnering with the Ports of Oakland and Seattle to increase the flow of shipments while continuing to deliver innovative solutions to our customers.”
Oakland has easy access for California shippers, immediate berth availability and fast rail connections to Chicago, Memphis, Dallas, and Kansas City.
The expanded service will also include Seattle, allowing for new capacity to Pacific Northwest customers.
Responding to considerable customer demand in the US in the second half of 2020, the group also increased capacity in the US by 39% between the first and second half of the year.
The growth in capacity included an extra 25 loaders operating on routes between Asia and the US, providing more than 114,000 TEUs in total capacity from May to December 2020 and 13 vessel-size increases.
The new GGB service will make its first call in Oakland on 12 February.
The move from the group is part of a wider initiative to quicken the return of empty containers to Asia, cutting delays to the international ports it serves.
In the US, CMA CGM has doubled the number of dedicated chassis in Southern California; broadened the base of truck providers to get containers in and out of the terminals more quickly; and collaborated with rail partners to bring additional rail cars through Southern California and split calls between ports to increase velocity at berth.
