Tangiers may take some CMA-CGM work from Malta

CMA CGM could be looking at the new Tangiers Med transhipment port as a major Mediterranean transhipment hub, superseding to some extent its existing hub at Malta Freeport, Lloyd's List has reported. The French company recently raised its stake in the new No. 2 terminal at Tangiers to 40 per cent by buying Morocco's Comanav shipping company which holds a 20 per cent stake. CMA CGM already held another 20 per cent.

Group chairman Jacques Saade' speaking at the handover of Comanev told a business daily: Ships are becoming bigger and bigger and will no longer be unloaded in Malta but at Tangiers, which is becoming vital". No. 2 container terminal at Tangiers is due to enter service in June next year and is expected to see container-handling capacity rise to nine million TEUs (containers) by 2020.

CMA CGM enjoys a 30-year concession to operate and develop Malta Freeport. The company is obliged to ensure that Malta Freeport Terminals remains a common user facility, allowing different clients to use the port.

Malta Freeport handled 1.4 million containers last year and Competitiveness Minister Censu Galea said this week that throughput is expected to rise by 25 per cent this year.

The Times Business e-mailed questions to CMA CGM on their plans for Malta but replies, promised for Tuesday, had not reached us by yesterday morning.