FRENCH shipping giant CMA CGM is to upgrade its Round the World Panama direct service from a fortnightly to a weekly frequency as of September 18 starting at Tilbury with the 2,226-TEU CMA CGM Manet.

The revised service will call at 20 ports and serve up to 15 different markets and provide faster transit times to include Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific Islands, Central and South America, the Caribbean, North America (USEC), North Europe, the Baltic, Mediterranean, North Africa and Black Sea ports.

The service will allow the fastest transit from Australia and New Zealand to Europe, and will help time-sensitive cargo such as fresh produce.