CMA CGM has named its latest 1,700-TEU newbuild, the CMA CGM Herodote, at Southampton City Cruise Terminal in the UK.

The French-owned CMA CGM Herodote, which flies the Union Jack, and was built by South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries, is the first in a series of six vessels to be delivered that will be dedicated to the Europe-Guyana-North Brazil trade.

Designed for shallows, the CMA CGM Herodote is fitted with 240 reefer plugs and has two side thrusters enabling her to berth without a tug. She will call at the ports of Algesiras, Leixoes, Rotterdam, Tilbury, Rouen, Le Havre, Saint Maarten, Port of Spain, Degrad des Cannes, Belem, Fortaleza, Natal, returning to Algesiras.

CMA CGM has a fleet of 350 vessels, making more than 350 ports of call. In 2006, the group transported over six million TEU for total revenue of US$8.42 billion. With a presence in 150 countries through its 600 agencies, the group employs over 14,000 people worldwide.