Egyptian authorities have confirmed their intention to enter into a long-term partnership with French shipping major CMA CGM for the operation and management of Pier 55, the Port of Alexandria’s future multi-purpose terminal.
Egypt confirmed its plans during the visit of Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the CMA CGM Group.
As informed, the partnership will also include the development of logistics solutions, digitalization, the contribution to the training of younger generations in maritime and logistics, as well as other investments.
The terminal, which covers an area of 560,000 square metres with quays of over 2 kilometres in length, will have a capacity of around 1,5 million TEUs and will facilitate the deployment of the group’s larger vessels.
Operations are expected to start in 2022.
In Egypt, CMA CGM currently calls six ports, linking the country to the rest of the world. Each year, the group’s vessels cross the Suez Canal more than 700 times.
CMA CGM said it strengthens its strategic position as a container terminal operator in the Mediterranean with terminal capacities of almost 7 million TEUs including facilities in Marseilles-Fos, Seville, Malta, Thessaloniki and Lattakia.
World Maritime News reports that at the crossroads between Africa, Asia and Europe, the Mediterranean represents a major area for the development of the group’s operations in maritime transportation, port operations and logistics.
CMA CGM will deploy its future LNG vessels in the Mediterranean
Committed to the energy transition of the maritime industry, CMA CGM will deploy on its service between Asia and the Mediterranean LNG-powered vessels of 15,000 TEUs by the end of 2021.
Rodolphe Saadé has decided to choose Marseille-Fos to bunker these new LNG vessels, making the Mediterranean a major area for the development of the use of LNG.