New Orleans joins Gulf Bridge Express

CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container shipping company, and CSAV are adding New Orleans to the Gulf Bridge Express service, linking the Gulf Coast to the Caribbean and ports in Central America and South America. Port of New Orleans President & CEO Gary LaGrange says the move will strengthen New Orleans’ connections to the Central American and South American markets and allow shippers to access CMA CGM’s worldwide services. “The upgrading of this service allows CMA CGM to strengthen its coverage of the U.S. Gulf and the Caribbean, where its network is already significant, broadening the scope of the service for its customers,” says CMA CGM Vice President Antilles Guyane. “The direct call to New Orleans provides new opportunities for CMA CGM imports as well as exports, through our dedicated hub of Kingston, Jamaica.” Headquartered in Marseille, France, the company operates a fleet of 389 ships on 170 shipping routes, serving 150 countries. Starting on Oct. 1, CMA CGM will utilize the Port’s Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal. When it begins local operations, its weekly Gulf Bridge Express service will include New Orleans; Altamira and Vera Cruz, Mexico; Kingston, Jamaica; Cartagena, Colombia; and Puerto Cabello and LaGuaria, Venezuela. “CMA CGM’s decision to add the Port of New Orleans to the Gulf Bridge Express is an indication that our region is continuing to build its post-Katrina stature as a global shipping hub,” says Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc. Business Facilities magazine recently ranked the metropolitan New Orleans area as the No. 5 logistics/distribution/shipping hub in the country. Read the 10/12 Corridor Weekly newsletter here.