As part of this exercise, CMA CGM is rebranding the terminals as “Port Liberty New York” and “Port Liberty Bayonne”. In essence, the facilities are being upgraded so that larger vessels can call with their combined handling capacity being increased by approximately 80%. Currently, the combined handling capacity of the two terminals is estimated at just over 2M TEU a year.

Meanwhile, in partnership with the States of New York and New Jersey, rail and road infrastructure in the vicinity of the two terminals will be improved with the main focus being on moving more freight in/out of the terminals by rail.

CMA CGM stressed that these moves were important and fully supported the group’s goal of reducing emissions and greenhouse gases and becoming net zero by 2050.

Once the upgrade work has been completed, CMA CGM will be in a much stronger position to canvass for more third-party business. The expansion also supports CMA CGM’s objective of building a much larger presence in the US container shipping, ports and logistics sectors.

Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, declared: “The acquisition of these two terminals is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to the US market in building more resilient and more sustainable supply chains. It is a major step forward in our strategy of developing and modernising infrastructures here and around the world.”

In a statement, the company added: “Port Liberty New York and Port Liberty Bayonne on the East Coast, together with Fenix Marine Services (Los Angeles) on the US west coast now rank as CMA CGM’s flagship terminals in North America. They will enable us to provide a better service offering to our customers.”

In addition to its terminals in the ports of NY/NJ and Los Angeles, CMA CGM has investments in terminals in the ports of Dutch Harbor (Alaska), Houston and Miami.