When CMA CGM announced that it has signed three agreements with China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) and the United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), it effectively created new connections between Rijeka and the Far East.
Under the name “Ocean Three,” the service covers the Asia–Europe, Asia–Mediterranean, transpacific and Asia–US east coast trades through a combination of vessel-sharing, slot-exchange and slot-charter agreements. Recognizing the importance of Rijeka as a trade gateway, Ocean Three has decided to make Adriatic Gate Container Terminal in Rijeka, Croatia the first port of call for one of the services, the Adriatic service called PHOEX. This Asia–Mediterranean route has four weekly services, two to the Mediterranean, one to the Black Sea, and one to the Adriatic. This means that the transit time for a container travelling from Shanghai, China to Rijeka will be 29 days, 26 from Busan, South Korea, 24 from Ningbo, China, 21 from Chiwan, China and 16 from Port Kelang, Malaysia. On the other hand, the Asia–Europe trade route will have four weekly services, which complements two existing services, thereby offering a total of six departures a week. The Transpacific trade route meanwhile has four weekly services to California and one service to the Pacific Northwest (United States and Canada). Lastly, the Asia–US east coast route will have one service via the Suez Canal and one service dedicated to the Gulf of Mexico. These transatlantic agreements are being finalized and will be announced soon.