CMA CGM has introduced four-car FEUs each with a system of sliding, retractable ramps that the French shipping line says is a breakthrough in ocean-going auto transport.

The Trans-Rak innovation offers a containerized alternative to shipping cars on car carrier vessels. It makes service to secondary ports easier and is more responsive to the needs of exporters in terms of schedules and flow, said the shipping line.

The car-containers make door-to-door service possible without breaking bulk. Vehicles leave the production line and arrive directly at distribution centers with no handling in between. This protects cars from weather, theft and damage through handling. The system is also retractable so containers can be used for other purposes.