CMA CGM (America) LLC announced the BLUE WHALE as its first vessel to call the newly opened Mobile Container Terminal on Friday, January 2, 2009.

The BLUE WHALE is one of a series of sister vessels owned and operated by CMA CGM that comprise the weekly PEX 3 service form Asia to the United States Gulf Coast. This service includes calls to Shanghai, Xiamen, Chiwan, Hong Kong, Houston, Mobile, Norfolk, Savannah, Charleston and Kingston.

The panamax vessel has a capacity of 5,100 Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). It was commissioned in 2006 and is over 965 ft. long. It has a low exhaust emission incinerator, a domestic waste compactor, and an enhanced water and oil residue treatment plant, among other features.

“We are certainly pleased with the recent addition of the CMA CGM vessels at the Mobile Container Terminal (MCT) facility. This rotation of vessels joins the Zim vessels currently calling the facility. MCT is a state of the art facility, and a great asset to the State of Alabama and the region,” said James K. Lyons, Director & CEO, Alabama State Port Authority.

“We are excited for our new customer to begin their service at Mobile Container Terminal,” said Brian Clark, Director, Mobile Container Terminal.

Mobile Container Terminal is a joint venture between APM Terminals North America, Terminal Link, a division of CMA CGM, and the Alabama State Port Authority. The facility opened in October 2008.