CMA CGM’s car carrier makes maiden call at Hambantota Port

COLOMBO : Hambantota International Port (HIP) welcomed the CMA CGM Silverstone, a pure car carrier operated by CMA CGM, on it’s first-ever call at a Sri Lankan Port on March 21. This event highlights HIP’s growing importance as a regional hub for vehicle transshipment.   

The CMA CGM Silverstone, a 200-metre long, LNG-powered vessel built in 2024 and capable of transporting 7,000 cars, arrived at HIP from Singapore with 333 loading units, including vehicles. While CMA CGM is a major global container shipping operator, this call signifies its expansion into the roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) sector.   

“CMA CGM bringing its first pure car carrier vessel to Sri Lanka is a significant moment,” said Kingsley Abeywickrama, Director of CMA CGM Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. “While this is currently a one-off trial call, it provides an opportunity for us to assess HIP’s potential as a future transshipment hub for car operations.”   

Unlike conventional RoRo vessels that carry mixed cargo, the CMA CGM Silverstone is designed exclusively for vehicle transport. The current voyage involves the transshipment of vehicles already discharged at HIP by other operators, destined for Casablanca, Morocco, and does not include local vehicle imports or exports.   

Hambantota International Port has been increasing its role as a key transshipment hub for vehicles from India, Japan, China, and South Korea, facilitating their re-export to global markets.   CMA CGM’s marine services managed the ship’s arrival and departure, while Glovis, a leading global logistics and shipping company and a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, coordinated cargo operations.

 “As CMA CGM continues to expand its RoRo capabilities, this maiden call signals the company’s intent to explore new opportunities in vehicle transshipment, leveraging HIP’s strategic location and modern infrastructure,” said General Manager Commercial and Marketing of HIPG, Lance Zuo.   

CMA CGM, a global leader in shipping and logistics and among the top three container shipping operators worldwide, has a strong presence in Sri Lanka, operating 14 container vessels weekly at the Port of Colombo, and is expanding into new segments like vehicle transshipment.