Halterm International Container Terminal announces CMA CGM Columbus Service

Canadian and US Mid-West shippers will gain unique import and export opportunities with the entry of a new shipping service to Halterm International Container Terminal - the first direct South China, Vietnam and Malaysia vessel connections for Canada’s East Coast. Halifax, Nova Scotia - Global marine carrier, CMA CGM, whose ships already call Halterm International Container Terminal, is adding Halifax to its Columbus service between Asia and North America, with the first ship to call on August 3. Opportunities for shippers include: - East coast Canada’s only direct service from South China (Hong Kong/Yantian) - Unrivalled intermodal service to the major inland destinations, including Toronto and Montreal - Direct Service to Halifax from Malaysia (23 days) and Vietnam (26 days) and Toronto in 26-29 days

CMA CGM’s General Manager Canada, Lionel Chatelet, said the company was delighted to add Halifax to its Columbus service, thus expanding its services to clients in Asia and North America by offering faster transit times to key Canadian centres. The first call will be by the 8478 TEU capacity vessel, CMA CGM Vivaldi which, at 334 metres in length, is the largest container vessel to berth at Halterm. With ships carrying up to 9200 TEU capacity, the Columbus service offers a step up in the capability of container services into the region. Halterm CEO, Ashley Dinning, said today that Halterm’s value to Asian shippers and Canadian exporters was the consistent and efficient service the company, through its dedicated workforce, provided to vessel, rail and truck modes as a gateway to and from Canadian and Mid-West centres. “We now have the opportunity to deliver on these new, direct connections for the Canadian market” he said. “CMA CGM, with its commitment and vision for its customers, has recognised the potential of the deep water, high capacity vessel calls we can support at Halterm”. “This is great news for us, for Halifax and for the province and we are looking forward to an even stronger relationship with our valued customer going forward” Dinning said. Under a new long term contract, the Columbus service now joins CMA CGM’s St Laurent Service at Halterm. The latter serves Canada’s trans-Atlantic export markets. Lionel Chatelet said CMA CGM’s clients placed high value on on-time delivery and the direct connection to Halifax opened up new rapid delivery options via Halterm for the Columbus service. The rotation for the new service originates in Shanghai, China. It includes Hong Kong and Yantian, China, followed by Vung Tau, Vietnam; Port Kelang, Malaysia; Halifax, Canada; New York, Norfolk and Savannah, USA; Port Kelang, Vung Tau, Hong Kong, Yantian, Ningbo, China and Busan, Korea.