CMA CGM MEDEA, one of the world’s largest container ships

CMA CGM MEDEA, one of the world’s largest container ships christened at the Terminal de France in Le Havre

CMA CGM Group, the world’s third largest container shipping company and the largest in France, is pleased to announce the christening of its container ship, the CMA CGM MEDEA, a 9,415 TEU* vessel, at the Terminal de France, Port 2000, in Le Havre today at 4:00 pm.

Under French flag, the CMA CGM MEDEA is the Group’s 86th company-owned vessel in a fleet of 278 and is one of the largest container ships in the world. Also named for an opera, the CMA CGM MEDEA is a sister ship of the CMA CGM FIDELIO, RIGOLETTO, and NORMA, all 9,400 TEU vessels.

This ocean-going giant can carry 9,415 twenty-foot containers stacked over 18-high. Her extra-large dimensions speak for themselves: 349 meters long, 43 meters wide with a 15 meter draft for a speed of 24 knots.

To christen one of the pearls of its fleet, the Group has chosen Mrs. Corinne Perben, wife of Dominique Perben, the French Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure, Tourism and Maritime Affairs, as godmother: “Being the godmother of the CMA CGM MEDEA is both a great honor and a duty that I accept gladly. I take my role seriously and will keep the crew of this ship in my thoughts as they make their long journeys. The sea is a place of dreams. I hope that I will bring them luck.”

Deployed on the Group’s new express service linking Asia and Europe – the French Asia Line 2 – the CMA CGM MEDEA will call on the ports of Ningbo, Shanghai, Yantian, Hong Kong, Port Kelang, Le Havre, Rotterdam, Hamburg and Zeebrugge.

This new service offers CMA CGM customers additional calls from the main ports of Asia, most notably Shanghai and Ningbo as well as Port Kelang for service to all markets in Southeast Asia.

With this new service, the Group reinforces its offers on the Asia-Europe market, one of the most ancient maritime trade routes in the world. Today, there are a total of eight regular weekly lines to keep pace with the booming trade in this constantly growing market (up 15 percent in 2005).

Photos of the christening will be available on demand, as from October 3.

*TEU = twenty foot equivalent unit, meaning the vessel can transport 9,415 20-foot containers (20 ft x 8 ft x 8.5 ft)


The vessel:

Name: CMA CGM MEDEA
Total container capacity: 9,415 TEUs
LOA: 349 meters
Beam: 42.80 meters
Draft: 15 meters
Speed: 24.1 knots
Flag: French (RIF)
Home port: Marseilles
Built by: Hyundai Heavy Industries (Korea)
Delivery Date: May 12, 2006


Shipping line:

Line name: French Asia Line 2 (FAL2)
Vessels deployed: 8 vessels, each with a 9,415 TEU capacity
Calls: Ningbo, Shanghai, Yantian, Hong Kong, Port Kelang, Le Havre, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Zeebrugge, Port Kelang, Ningbo