French shipping giant CMA CGM has announced a second weekly service linking Australia and New Zealand with North America under a slot-charter agreement with Maersk, reports North Sidney�� Daily Cargo News.

The Kea service will complement CMA CGM�� PAD product, positioning the carrier as the only line offering two weekly departures on the trade. Southbound calls will include New York, Philadelphia, Savannah and Charleston, with Tauranga as an import stop. Northbound coverage will extend to Port Chalmers and Charleston.

The full rotation mirrors Maersk�� OC1 service, beginning in early February with the 3,760 TEU Spirit of Melbourne. The inaugural vessel differs from Maersk�� earlier announcement, which had designated Oluf Maersk.

Under the charter agreement filed with the US Federal Maritime Commission, CMA CGM will purchase 350 TEU, equal to 4,900 tonnes, including 100 reefer plugs, per roundtrip sailing. Additional slots may be provided subject to Maersk�� discretion. CMA may sub-charter slots only to affiliates, such as its PAD partner Marfret, and remains responsible for any allocations.

Unused slots or reefer plugs will revert to Maersk free of charge. CMA may use its allocation for intra-regional cargo moves, subject to operational and legal constraints.

Analysts said the agreement is a defensive move against MSC�� Eagle service, which launches February 1 with 11 ships ranging from 2,556 TEU to 4,043 TEU and reefer capacity of 586 to 1,109 TEU. MSC has taken slots on OC1 since 2011 and will continue until end-January at 525 TEU per week in each direction.

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