FRENCH shipping group CMA CGM has announced the recent deployment of a new 1,700-TEU containership, the CMA CGM Herodote, which has started this month serving the trade from Europe-Guyana North Brazil.

It is the first company-owned vessel in a series of six similar-sized ships to be dedicated to this route with four of the vessels provided by CMA CGM, and two by Marfret.

The six containerships built by South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries will provide 51 per cent greater cargo capacity than those that have previously berthed at Saint Maarten and French Guiana, a statement from CMA CGM said.

These vessels will call at the following ports in the rotation: Cadiz, Leixoes, Rotterdam, Tilbury, Rouen, Le Havre, Saint Maarten, Port of Spain, Degrad des Cannes, Belem, Fortaleza, Natal and back to Cadiz.

A key feature is the vessels' hulls which have been designed for shallow water. The vessels will also be fitted with 240 reefer plugs to load the equivalent of 480 TEU of reefer cargo, or 5,200 tons of exotic fruits from North Brazil; two thrusters for berthing and manoeuvring without a tug; and two 45-ton cranes and one 30-ton crane.