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CMA CGM christens Asia-Europe boxship

CMA CGM christens Asia-Europe boxship

Marseille: The latest newbuilding belonging to the world's third largest liner company CMA CGM, today makes a one-off deviation to that company's home city of Marseille for a special christening ceremony.

Built by Hyundai HI, the 9,400teu CMA CGM Fidelio was delivered earlier this year and is deployed on new Asia Europe service FAL 2, to be operated in cooperation with China Shipping's AEX7. It is the 76th vessel owned by the Group whose fleet numbers 242 vessels.

Attending the ceremony will be the Mayor of Marseille and nearly all the company's 1,450 workforce in that city. CMA CGM's recent expansion - based largely on business in China, from where it now operates 25 weekly services - has necessitated the building of a new HQ building almost three times the size of the previous one (opened in 2002). The new 150mtr tower is destined to become the city's tallest building and a beacon-like landmark at the entrance to Marseille harbour.

Eblematic godmother for the ceremony is the world's fastest round-the-world sailor, Ellen MacArthur, whose record-breaking yacht B&Q was earlier this year transported aboard a CMA CGM vessel to and from a special celebratory tour of Asia.

The yachtswoman declared herself delighted to be godmother since she felt a shared 'passion for the sea, Asia and taste for a challenge' all united her with CMA CGM.  [04/07/06]