French shipping giant CMA CGM has christened its new 3,504-TEU containership, CMA CGM Fort de France, in Martinique.
The vessel, which was delivered in January, is the first of four vessels belonging to CMA CGM's new fleet dedicated to the French West Indies. It will be joined in the coming months by the CMA CGM Fort Royal, CMA CGM Fort Saint Charles and CMA CGM Fort Fleur d'epee, all of which were named after French West Indian forts, the company said.
In the French West Indies, the CMA CGM operates seven maritime services connecting these islands to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
"The CMA CGM Group is very attached to the French West Indies, with which we maintain a unique and historical bond," said Rodolphe Saade, chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, in a statement. "The CMA CGM Fort de France, the first of a series of four new vessels dedicated to these territories, is the illustration of this commitment which we wish to further strengthen."
In order to support the acceleration of Martinique's economic and maritime development, the CMA CGM Group has invested more than EUR12 million (US$13.5 million) there over the past ten years.
Over the past several years, the Port of Martinique has been carrying out works aimed at increasing its capacity. Following the delivery in June 2017 of 2.5 hectares of reclaimed land on the Pointe des Grives Terminal, additional operations will begin over the first half of 2019 to lengthen the terminal quay and to develop 2.5 further hectares of reclaimed land. The Port has also decided to order a fourth gantry crane, a CMA CGM statement said.
The CMA CGM Group will then offer new services to the Mediterranean, South America and the Gulf of Mexico, with vessels of up to 6,900 TEU.
CMA CGM wants to build on the strengths of Guadeloupe and Martinique to create a real hub in the Lesser Antilles.