CMA CGM Group has officially launched the Ocean Rise Express (OCR), a new weekly shipping service that provides a direct link between Japan, South China, and North Europe.
As the Asia Europe corridor remains a central pillar of the carrier’s East-West network, the OCR service brings dedicated, sole-operated capacity to the trade lane. The route will deploy a fleet of 14 vessels ranging from 7,000 to 10,000 TEU. Notably, this lineup includes one 8,000 TEU containership powered by LNG.
Positioned to offer high schedule reliability and predictable end-to-end flows, the service features direct calls from major Asian gateways like Yokohama and Yantian straight to North European hubs.
Expected transit times include:
- From Yokohama: 38 days to Rotterdam, 41 to Hamburg, and 45 to Southampton.
- From Yantian: 32 days to Rotterdam, 35 to Hamburg, and 38 to Southampton.
The inaugural sailing is scheduled for April 2, 2026, following a full rotation of: Kobe – Nagoya – Yokohama – Xiamen – Yantian – Rotterdam – Hamburg – Southampton – Nansha – Kobe.
Bo Wegener, Chief Executive Officer of CMA CGM Asia Pacific, emphasized the strategic significance of the new route. “The launch of Ocean Rise Express highlights the strategic importance of the Asia–Europe trade within CMA CGM’s global network,” Wegener stated. “The enhanced Asia-Europe connectivity underscores our commitment to delivering greater value and reliability to our customers.”