The French ferry firm Brittany Ferries has announced its first transportation of a CMA CGM container from France to the United Kingdom, marking a milestone for the partnership between the two compatriot companies, which was finalised in 2021.
The containers were lifted onto special chassis and loaded aboard Brittany Ferries’ Cotentin in the port of Le Havre, according to a statement, with the vessel departing Le Havre for Portsmouth on 12 January.
The first driverless CMA CGM load to be carried by Brittany Ferries across the Channel further strengthens links between the two companies, according to the Marseille-based container shipping line, which noted that after the launch of the partnership, conventional articulated lorry loads have already been carried on Brittany Ferries’ Portsmouth – Caen route.
“This first shipment demonstrates the dynamism of our commercial partnership with Brittany Ferries, and is a major step as we build our multimodal service linking France, the UK, Ireland and Spain,” highlighted Mathieu Girardin, CMA CGM’s central director for short sea routes.
This milestone “promises complementary cross-Channel freight transport links, thanks to a ‘fast lane’ solution bringing shorter transit times and increased frequency,” pointed out CMA CGM.
Signed in September 2021, the partnership creates opportunities for passenger and freight shipping, while it will permit growth in cross-Channel shipping, cementing France’s position in the sector, according to CMA CGM’s announcement.
“We know that we must adapt to market trends and customer demand in order to prove our strength in a competitive market. This is, therefore, a welcome milestone and highlights the mutual benefits of working together,” commented Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries.
