CMA CGM steps up Iran presence with IRISL deal

Yesterday French shipping line CMA CGM appeared to steal a march on its deepsea container carrier rivals in the quest to open up the Iranian market. It signed a preliminary vessel sharing agreement on three direct services into the country, as well as cooperation on transhipping deepsea cargoes via CMA CGM’s services that hub at Dubai. “The partnership is the first struck between a major international line and IRISL and marks a further resumption of shipping trade after CMA CGM and some competitors resumed port calls in Iran last year.”