Source: Lloyd’s Loading List
Date: 29th June 2021
Container line to bypass the key French port on its Eurosal service for three months, saying months of congestion and lack of productivity had made service less reliable.
CMA CGM said it plans to stop calling at the French port of Le Havre for three months, citing congestion.
The French container line said the move was to maintain the quality of its Eurosal service, which connects northern Europe with the west coast of South America and the Caribbean.
CMA CGM told customers that heavy congestion and lack of productivity had affected the route’s reliability.
“Unfortunately this situation is not expected to improve with the summer period,” it said. “We deeply regret the inconvenience caused by this situation and remain at your disposal for further information and assistance.”
Coverage of Le Havre import and export cargo would be offered by transhipment in Antwerp.
Congestion has led other carriers to suspend port calls.
The Alliance has said it plans to drop its call at Rotterdam from its FE4 service, which connects Asia to North Europe, for seven consecutive sailings starting from July 13.
Throughput at Le Havre fell 14.4% to 2.4m teu in 2020 but returned to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year, according to port authority Haropa.