One of the world’s largest container shipping lines has announced a new service from West Africa to London Gateway port.

The CMA CGM service is calling direct to Nigeria, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast – meaning some of the fastest transit times on the market. The service also offers an extensive range of West African ports, via transhipment, with competitive transit times to key destinations.

The service will be provided through partnership with Hapag-Lloyd and MOL. It was launched when the Frisia Helsinki called at London Gateway earlier this year.

London Gateway port commercial manager Tabare Dominguez said: “We are delighted to be able to serve CMA CGM and we are very pleased they have chosen our

state-of-the-art port for their West Africa service. We now welcome new cargo owners to Britain’s new global port and remain focused on delivering service excellence to our customers.”
Trucks calling at London Gateway pick up containers and exit the port in less than 30 minutes, according to port chiefs, thanks to automated truck handling systems. This

technology is leading the industry to change to more efficient methods of distribution. The port, located less than 30 miles from the city of London, also combines Europe’s largest logistics park, which will see its first distribution centre open this month.

London Gateway Logistics Centre (LGLC) has opened for business – promising benefits to all users, regardless of size.
LGLC, at DP World London Gateway, is one of the largest of its kind in Europe, with 9.25 million sq ft of development space, neighbouring the deep sea port. Essex-based freight forwarding company Westbound Shipping Services has become its first tenant.
Phase one of the key infrastructure and trunk roads at the park has been completed and work is already underway to build the London Gateway site’s second unit. That will be a 316,500 sq ft distribution centre and joint venture between Prologis and DP World.

Danny Horne,
one of
Westbound’s
directors, said
about LGLC:
“This is the
perfect
geographical
location; it
works for
customers,
visitors, staff
and of
course cargo.”
DP World
London Gateway CEO Simon Moore said: “While household retail names have the option
to develop their own dedicated buildings on the logistics
park, we intend to make sure that the portocentric and

market-centric benefits of using London Gateway are accessible to all, irrespective of size, including ca4rgo owners,
freight forwarders and
third-party logistics providers.”