CMA CGM moves headquarters from Rio to Sao Paulo

Shipowner second evaluates charter boat for coasters.

CMA CGM will change the seat in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo. The transfer will be completed by July this year. According to the president of the shipowner in Brazil, Nelson Carlini, this is a decision to reduce costs, add sections and leverage synergies. Another change is that the support office will be in Santos, where he will focus, for example, finance and human resources. In Rio de Janeiro will only ship agency.

Carlini - who is retiring and leaving the CMA CGM on Friday, March 30 - refutes any connection between the change of headquarters and financial restructuring through which runs the third largest container shipping in the world. "It has no relation. We were the only international shipping company that has maintained headquarters in Rio We have a large building in Santos and Sao Paulo. In Rio is not ours and we are growing as we would have to rent."

The CMA CGM estimates close this year with the movement of 310 000 Teus (unit of measurement equal to a 20-foot container) in trade with Brazil, an increase of almost 9% over 2009. In 2008, the French company handled 330,000 Teus.

According to Carlini, the company plans to charter a second ship-container port. "There is the possibility of chartering a vessel of similar tonnage and this will be done," he said, referring to the first vessel to navigate rented home - the ship DG Columbia, with a capacity of 17 000 tonnes.

During the Intermodal South America 2010, CMA CGM has announced its entry in cabotage. The company signed a charter contract with the shipowner Di Gregorio to operate the DG Columbia. The ship is being adapted in Manaus. The vessel will make the route is-Santos, at first.

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