Large cargo ship offers faster
delivery from north Europe
POINTE BLANCHE--It’s a behemoth with the capacity to transport 1,700 twenty-foot containers from north Europe direct to St. Maarten in nine days instead of the usual fifteen days.
However, it is not these aspects that make Herodote, the largest cargo ship ever to visit St. Maarten, outstanding. The ship, the newest in international shipping giant CMA CGM’s fleet, expands possibilities for St. Maarten as a transhipment point for the north eastern Caribbean based on its carrying capacity and direct service from France.
Herodote is on its maiden voyage from Europe and makes its inaugural call to St. Maarten Sunday. The vessel only came in port with 800 containers. All the cargo for St. Maarten would take 15 to 24 hours to off load. The ship continues on its voyage to Trinidad today, Monday.
To mark the inaugural call, the captain was presented with a plaque from St. Maarten Ports Authority (SMPA) Managing Director Keith Franca during an informal ceremony on board.
CMA CGM vessels represent more than 40 per cent of the cargo coming into the island yearly. For this reason, SMPA does its best to make sure the company’s vessels get “not red tape but a red carpet,” Franca said.
It is not every day the island accommodates a 170-metre long ship. The ship’s comfortable cruise into port was a sign of the superior service the island ship’s pilots can offer, he said.
The importance of catering for the growing cargo and transhipment business, St. Maarten Harbour Holding Company Managing Director Mark Mingo said plans are in the works to expand the facilities and further improve the services.
The arrival of this large cargo ship is a big day for the island and marks another step in the strong 20-year relationship CMA CGM has with the local government, SMPA and shipping company Intermar, CMA CGM local General Manager Liliane Hohl said.
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