CMA CGM Makes Jamaica its Caribbean Hub

The CMA CGM Group has announced a deal with the Port Authority of Jamaica that grants the company the concession to Kingston Container Terminal for 30 years.

The deal was signed by Farid T. Salem, CMA CGM Group Executive Officer, on April 7th, in Kingston. Portia Simpson Miller, Jamaica Prime Minister, and Jean-Pierre Bel, the French President François Hollande Special Representative in Latin America and the Caribbean, attended the event.

A planned terminal extension will turn Kingston into one of the Caribbean top five ports. With a total 2,400 meters of wharf, an 80 ha surface and 15.5 meters draught, Kingston Container terminal will increase its annual capacity up to 3.6 million TEU containers. It will be equipped with 14 gantry cranes and 60 port riders.

The Panama Canal, expected to be completed in 2016, will allow the deployment of larger vessels, 12,600 TEUs, in the area. Located at the entrance of the canal, at the cross roads of the North/South and East/West lines, the new terminal will offer a deeper draught where larger vessels will be accommodated. 

The terminal, located where CMA CGM’s market share accounts for about 35 to 40 percent, will be open to all shipping lines. They can expect to benefit from the same quality of services and treatment without discrimination, says CMA CGM.

With Kingston Container Terminal, the CMA CGM Group reinforces its presence in terminals. The CMA CGM Group has been operating 24 terminals worldwide and handles more than 14 million TEU each year. 

“This investment is part of the CMA CGM Group global development plan in the region, including new vessels more adapted to markets, as well as the creation of logistics platforms and the volume increase development in ports – for instance in the French Antilles,” said Salem.

Image courtesy of Gilbert Bellamy