In its first major service announcement since CMA CGM took over at APL the line will be starting to call at Felixstowe on a new service connecting the UK port with Asia.

The new Felixstowe Express Service (FEX) will link Felixstowe with key ports in China including Yangshan and Ningbo, with a call in Port Klang in Malaysia, before calling the UK, Rotterdam and Hamburg.

The service adding Felixstowe to APL’s network was described by the company as an important expansion to its Asia – Europe network.

“With Felixstowe’s close proximity to the main European shipping lanes; and broad inland transportation options to the rest of UK, the FEX service will provide APL shippers with yet another route of accessing the markets,” APL and CMA CGM said in a statement.

It added that it would complement APL’s existing calls at Southampton. The new service launches from Qingdao, China on 20 August.

The announcement comes at it would appear CMA CGM rationalises its brands following the acquisition of APL with it planning to drop the ANL brand, which also owns, from the Asia – Europe and Asia – Mediterranean corridor, according to analyst Alpahliner.

APL is particularly strong in the transpacific trade and its acquisition through CMA CGM buying Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) will make the French line the largest line on that trade.

Source: seatrade-maritime.com