CMA-CGM has embarked on a joint vessel partnership with China Shipping Container Line and Maruba Lines on a new service route to South America.

Westport Malaysia started this service with the berthing of CMA-CGM's MV Astrolabe, which arrived at the port Friday.

"The new SEAS service will primarily link ports in Asia, South Africa and South America and there will be 10 vessels of 1900-2500 teus capacity deployed for this service," Westport said in a statement Friday.

CMA-CGM will operate five vessels, while China Shipping Container Line and Maruba Lines will deploy three and two vessels respectively.

This joint service will have two calls weekly to Westport Malaysia, namely Friday (Westbound) and Wednesday (Eastbound).

The SEAS service will offer direct port calls to Durban, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Buenos-Aires, Rio Grande and Paranagua on the Westbound calls whereas Eastbound vessels will call at Hong Kong, Pusan, Shanghai, Ningbo and Chiwan.

The launching of the SEAS service will further strengthen Westport Malaysia's presence as a mega transshipment hub of this region.

The SEAS service is the third new service that has been launched at Westport since January 2005.

BERNAMA, 27.5.2005