SHIPPING giant CMA CGM Group says it has successfully completed the record loading of 15 sports motor yachts for customer Aurora Yacht Logistics as part of an operation at Brisbane.
The luxury vessels were loaded onto the CMA CGM Abu Dhabi which is currently operating on the PAD (Panama Direct Line) service.
This service connects Europe, the US east coast, Central America, the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand.
The operations took place at the DP World terminal within Port of Brisbane with yachts of 13 metres to 22 metres being loaded onto the 195 metre CMA CGM Abu Dhabi.
According to CMA CGM, the lifting of 15 sports motor yachts is a global record for the company.
“The PAD service carries a wide variety of agricultural and manufactured cargo from Oceania to the Americas and Europe, including specialised and complex shipments such as this record operation,” said ANL & CMA CGM Group Agencies managing director, Shane Walden.
“With our global network of more than 250 services connecting over 420 ports, we provide tailored logistics solutions to customers like Aurora, supporting their expertise in international yacht and powerboat transport.”
Mr Walden said the CMA CGM Group had transported more than 70 yachts to and from Australia since the beginning of the year.
“The Group is committed to facilitating these flows across the Pacific and to enabling Australian manufacturers to access global markets,” he said.
While much of CMA CGM’s work relates to containers, the organisation operates in several other areas with out of-gauge or breakbulk liftings at 420 ports globally.
This record loading took place over three days, with some sports motor yachts lifted from the quay and others via sling and crane.
According to the company, planning efficient loading and discharge as well as securing the cargo was “a meticulous process which went smoothly due to long standing partnerships and experience”.