CMA CGM has officially launched its new Ocean Rise Express (OCR) service, with the inaugural call completed at the Port of Kobe. This marks the commencement of a dedicated weekly direct container service linking major Japanese ports with key North European gateways—including Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Southampton.

The OCR service delivers competitive end-to-end transit times: cargo departing Yokohama reaches Rotterdam in 38 days, Hamburg in 41 days, and Southampton in 45 days. Fully operated by CMA CGM using its own vessel capacity, the service is designed to enhance schedule adherence, reduce port-to-port variability, and accelerate time-to-market for shippers across Asia–Europe trade lanes.

The maiden voyage was undertaken by the *CMA CGM TOSCA*, an eco-efficient 8,000-TEU container vessel. The rotation ports: Kobe → Nagoya → Yokohama → Xiamen → Yantian → Rotterdam → Hamburg → Southampton → Nansha → Kobe.

In parallel, CMA CGM has enhanced its Eagle Express 1 (EX1) service to further strengthen Japan–United States connectivity. The upgraded EX1 now includes direct calls at Kobe, Nagoya, and Yokohama—with scheduled transit times to the Port of Los Angeles of 16, 14, and 12 days respectively. The revised weekly service will commence from Kobe on 5 May 2026.

Hideki Uchida, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific & Middle East at CMA CGM, stated: “The launch of Ocean Rise Express reinforces our strategic commitment to deepening Asia–Europe trade integration—delivering superior schedule reliability, reduced transit variability, and measurable value for customers. Concurrently, the EX1 enhancements reflect our ongoing focus on high-frequency, time-definite solutions for trans-Pacific trade.”

These developments underscore CMA CGM’s sustained investment in Japan’s maritime infrastructure and its broader objective of building resilient, high-performance global shipping networks.

Resource.: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/OWx8RomlKn3WZ_pWv21GIQ