CMA CGM Group launches cargo vessel in Ghana
The CMA CGM Group has inaugurated the biggest container shipping vessel from Asia to West Africa in Ghana.
The vessel, named CMA CGM Africa One, has a capacity of 3,600 tues, which means it can carry 3,600 of 20 footer containers.
The significance of its size is that between 1975 and 2006 the largest vessel on the seas had 1,000 tues capacity and from 2006 to 2007 the largest was 1,500 tues, and the latest before CMA CGM Africa One was 2,500 tues.
It is one of four of such vessels the company operates from Asia to Africa and this is the first time it has arrived in Africa and Ghana is, and will always be the first port of call every week.
It will also be calling at Lagos, Abidjan, Cotonou and Lome.
Commercial Manager of the CMA CGM Group in Ghana, Geoffrey Cole tells Adom Business News the vessel has is two football pitches long, six floors tall and 37.30 meters wide, which makes it the largest in the world.
Mr. Coles said the vessel was specially designed to operate independently and to overcome specific challenges at African ports, including shallow waters for berthing and power fluctuations.
He explained that it has four in-built gears to off-load and re-load containers in times of power outage at the port, and also has a mechanism that enables it to gather enough water around it so it can berth in shallow waters.
Mr. Cole said the size of it gives customers the advantage of lower freight rates, and its independent operating abilities eliminates delays in berthing and in delivering containers to customers.
“Tema will always be the first port of call and the transit time is the fastest on the continent,” he said.
General Manager of the Delmas Shipping Ghana, subsidiary of CMA CGM Group in Ghana, Mr. Hugh Curtis said the company invested hundreds of millions of dollars in building the special vessel for Africa, and that is a show of commitment to Africa.
“Many companies are getting into the shipping business in Africa, but we are the first to put such a large vessel on the sea to meet the specific challenges of Africa,” he said.
Some of the company’s customers said the transit time, freight rates and 30 days period for clearing their goods as against seven days on other vessels, are great advantages.
By Samuel Dowuona
The CMA CGM Group has inaugurated the biggest container shipping vessel from Asia to West Africa in Ghana.
The vessel, named CMA CGM Africa One, has a capacity of 3,600 tues, which means it can carry 3,600 of 20 footer containers.
The significance of its size is that between 1975 and 2006 the largest vessel on the seas had 1,000 tues capacity and from 2006 to 2007 the largest was 1,500 tues, and the latest before CMA CGM Africa One was 2,500 tues.
It is one of four of such vessels the company operates from Asia to Africa and this is the first time it has arrived in Africa and Ghana is, and will always be the first port of call every week.
It will also be calling at Lagos, Abidjan, Cotonou and Lome.
Commercial Manager of the CMA CGM Group in Ghana, Geoffrey Cole tells Adom Business News the vessel has is two football pitches long, six floors tall and 37.30 meters wide, which makes it the largest in the world.
Mr. Coles said the vessel was specially designed to operate independently and to overcome specific challenges at African ports, including shallow waters for berthing and power fluctuations.
He explained that it has four in-built gears to off-load and re-load containers in times of power outage at the port, and also has a mechanism that enables it to gather enough water around it so it can berth in shallow waters.
Mr. Cole said the size of it gives customers the advantage of lower freight rates, and its independent operating abilities eliminates delays in berthing and in delivering containers to customers.
“Tema will always be the first port of call and the transit time is the fastest on the continent,” he said.
General Manager of the Delmas Shipping Ghana, subsidiary of CMA CGM Group in Ghana, Mr. Hugh Curtis said the company invested hundreds of millions of dollars in building the special vessel for Africa, and that is a show of commitment to Africa.
“Many companies are getting into the shipping business in Africa, but we are the first to put such a large vessel on the sea to meet the specific challenges of Africa,” he said.
Some of the company’s customers said the transit time, freight rates and 30 days period for clearing their goods as against seven days on other vessels, are great advantages.
By Samuel Dowuona
CMA CGM Group launches cargo vessel in Ghana, where is the government in all this and where is Ghana Black Star Line?
Is unfortunate our country is being invaded by Chinese dumping of cheap products as well as their shipping companies because Africa refuse to build anything themselves due to laziness over the years dependancy on Western handouts. It’s a shame. it’s a shame!!!
Where do we go from here now and future generations if we don’t open our eyes once the resources is finish and no more handouts.
The government in partnership with the private sector need to take a closer look at our shipping lines and Airlines, train better people, accountable individuals, responsible, visionary citizens to manage and bring this ccompanies back else, Ghana will not enjoy so call revenue from our resources. With the majority of the service industry revenue going to other countries instead injecting into Ghana’s economy.
i think it is of great advantage to the sub seharan trade zone as well as good for international trade.i believe someday ghana is goi to build a vessel far bigger than this.glory be to GOD for the wisdom given to man