Haiti update

By on Feb 25, 2010

CMA CGM resumes regular Port-au-Prince service, Lufthansa Cargo flies more relief supplies to Haiti, and Chapman Freeborn logs 100 aid flights to Haiti

Having been heavily involved in the relief effort since the earthquake struck Haiti, CMA CGM has resumed a regular service between Port-au-Prince and Kingston in Jamaica

On February 7th, a 516 TEU CMA CGM feeder vessel made an exceptional call to Port-au-Prince as an extension of its Europe-Caribbean Service (ECS)

A second call was made on February 15th, thanks to the 400-foot long floating dock that was recently installed at the Haiti Terminal

On February 11th, CMA CGM reopened the VITAL Agency, its Port-au- Prince representative

This regular service via Kingston, a major Caribbean transhipment hub, offers an alternative solution for all commodities coming from and going to Port-au-Prince, and represents a first step towards CMA CGM resuming its regular direct service from North Europe to Haiti, as soon as the situation permits

The METRO retail group has chartered two Lufthansa Cargo aircraft to transport its donated relief supplies to Haiti

The first Lufthansa Cargo MD-11 freighter flew from Dusseldorf Airport to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic on February 22nd, carrying 65 tonnes of relief supplies for onward trucking to Haiti

The second Lufthansa Cargo MD-11 is scheduled to follow in early- March

A Lufthansa Cargo freighter had already airlifted relief supplies to Haiti on January 25th

Earlier this month, Chapman Freeborn completed its 100th aid flight in response to the Haiti disaster

The charter specialist has delivered relief cargo from the US, Europe, the Middle East and Asia on behalf of international aid agencies

Aid has been flown into airports including Port au Prince in Haiti and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic on chartered aircraft including L-100 Hercules, AN-12, IL-76, DC-8, MD11, B777 and B747 freighters

Chapman Freeborn's passenger charter expertise was also used by American and European search and rescue organisations, with charters to Port au Prince and other regional airports on B737 and B767 aircraft