MARSEILLES shipping giant CMA CGM has presented a global development strategy, involving what it calls a "new and unique" east-west network of Asia-Europe, Asia-Med, transpacific and Asia-US east coast trades.

The company, the world's third biggest container shipping line, said this east-west service network will complete CMA CGM's offering on the big trade lanes - subject to regulatory approval by the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC).

These include four weekly services on the Asia-Europe route, completing the two existing services, thereby offering six departures a week.

Also there are four weekly Asia-Mediterranean services, two to the Med, one into the Adriatic and another into the Black Sea.

There will also be five weekly transpacific services, four to California and one to the Pacific Northwest including Canada.

There will also be Asia-US east coast services, via Suez and one dedicated to the Gulf of Mexico.

Transatlantic services are being finalised and will soon be announced, the company said.

The initiative involves 17 fixed-day weekly loops, the deployment of 159 ships totalling a capacity of 1.5 million TEU, making 199 Weekly calls to 93 ports.