The French shipping company CMA CGM is launching a new container route between Europe and Japan to compensate for the lack of capacity in the maritime transport market. The Ocean Rise Express (OCR) service will provide weekly sailings, with vessels also calling at ports in Southern China.
The route will be operated by 14 container ships with a capacity of 7,000–10,000 TEU. The vessels will operate between the ports of Kobe, Nagoya, Yokohama, Xiamen, Yantian, as well as European hubs — Rotterdam, Hamburg, Southampton, and Nansha. The first voyage is scheduled for April 2.
Transit time from Yokohama to Rotterdam will be 38 days, to Hamburg — 41 days, and to Southampton — 45 days. From Yantian, transit times will be 32, 35, and 38 days respectively. The company states that the route will ensure stable deliveries and minimize the risk of cargo damage, even despite using a detour via the Cape of Good Hope. Analysts note that the launch of OCR comes amid changes in the container shipping market and the discontinuation of some services by other operators.
