CMA CGM signs deal with Adani Ports for 4th Container Terminal in Mundra
Monday, 28 July 2014 00:00
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
France-based CMA CGM Group through its dedicated subsidiary CMA Terminals and India-based APSEZ have decided to form a 50:50 JV in Mundra
The JV will develop and operate the new Fourth Container Terminal, a state-of-the-art facility with an annual capacity of 1.3 million TEUs
Mundra will become India’s largest container port in next 24 months, with a total Container handling capacity reaching 5.5 million TEUs
CMA CGM Group has recently signed with Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), India’s largest port developer and part of Adani Group, an agreement for the development of a new common user Container Terminal at Mundra Port.
This will be the 4th Container Terminal in Mundra and will be a 650 metres terminal along with 27 hectares of back area capable of handling 1.3 million TEUs annually.
Following this announcement, the construction phase will be initiated immediately and completion will be in a record 24 months. The project comprises the design and construction of 650 meters jetty with a water depth of 16.5 meters. This world class terminal will initially have four units of 65 tonne capacity of Rail Mounted Quay Cranes capable of handling 18,000 TEU vessels and Super Post and Ultra Large Container Vessels. These cranes would be by far the largest and first of its kind in India. The yard equipment will include twelve 41 ton lift rubber tyred container gantry cranes which will accommodate seven rows of containers and one operational lane.
For CMA CGM, Mundra Container Terminal is the Group’s first port investment in India, and demonstrates its ambition to further increase its presence in this strategic and fast-developing country. CMA CGM is present in India since 1984. With around 500 staff members and 24 offices, CMA CGM is calling nine ports in India, and offers to its Indian customers more than eight direct shipping services connecting India to the rest of the world. This new investment adds to the 27 container terminals that CMA CGM Group has today in its portfolio, and is a key step in its strategy to further expand its position in port operations.
This 50:50 JV partnership is yet another major step by APSEZ to continue to rapidly expand its container terminals footprint across India’s coastline and further augments APSEZ’s existing two container handling locations at Mundra and Hazira along with its already announced two container terminals to be constructed at Ennore in Chennai and Dhamra in Odisha. It will allow Adani Ports to fulfil its stated vision of handling 200 million metric tons of cargo well before the year 2020.
State-of-the-art infrastructure
This partnership is expected to significantly benefit both companies in accelerating the ramp up of export, import and transhipment container volumes in India. Farid T. Salem, Executive Officer of CMA CGM Group said: “We believe in the development of India and of its economy. With this investment, CMA CGM and Adani Ports will develop a state-of-the-art infrastructure that will play a key role for the development of the country’s industry. CMA CGM has strong ambitions in India. We have already a strong presence in India, through our 24 offices and our eight direct shipping services. We are convinced our partnership with Adani Ports will significantly reinforce this strategy.”
Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, said: “We are very pleased with this JV partnership that will help put our continued expansion at the Mundra port on an even steeper trajectory. The strategic value of such a partnership with a major global player like CMA CGM is hugely significant and opens up a whole set of additional opportunities and synergies for both the companies This new container terminal will be an absolutely world class facility that will stimulate the growth of cargo benefiting our customers as well as help accelerate the industrial development over the vast hinterlands that Mundra provides access to. This will make Mundra the largest container port in the country.”
As per the agreement, the transaction is subject to approvals from the regulators as maybe required including the competition commission of India, MoCI and the GMB.
CMA CGM, founded and led by Jacques R. Saadé is the world’s third largest container shipping company and has a turnover of $ 15.9 billion in 2013. Operating a fleet of 428 vessels, the Group serves more than 400 ports around the world. In 2013, the Group carried 11.4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). With a presence on every continent and in 150 countries through its network of 650 agencies and branch offices, the Group employs more than 18,000 people worldwide and 2,400 in its headquarter in Marseilles.
CMA Terminals, incorporated in 2012, is a fully owned subsidiary of CMA CGM dedicated to investment in container terminals and dry ports. The company has interests in 12 terminals for a yearly throughput of 1.1 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). CMA Terminals core business consists in investing, developing, designing, building and operating high value and common user container terminals worldwide, with the objective of maximising synergies with CMA CGM. The team is composed of experts in finance, business control, terminal operation and design.
