CMA CGM Launches New Direct Service: Ocean Rise Express (OCR) Linking Japan, South China & North Europe

Publish Time: 2026-03-02 Origin: Site

On February 27, 2026, CMA CGM Group officially announced the launch of a new direct weekly service — Ocean Rise Express (OCR), connecting Japan, South China and North Europe. As a strategic corridor for CMA CGM, the Asia-Europe route witnesses the group’s firm commitment to supporting customers’ supply chains with reliable, high-performance solutions through the new OCR direct service.

1. OCR Service Overview: Operation & Vessel Deployment

The Ocean Rise Express (OCR) is a weekly direct service fully operated by CMA CGM, dedicated to providing a seamless connection between Japan, South China and North Europe with optimal transit times and enhanced schedule reliability.

To support the OCR service, CMA CGM will deploy a fleet of 14 container ships with a capacity ranging from 7,000 to 10,000 TEU, including one 8,000 TEU LNG-powered container ship. This deployment not only ensures high-frequency and reliable schedules but also responds to the trend of green and low-carbon shipping.

The inaugural sailing is scheduled to depart from Kobe on April 2, 2026.

2. OCR Port Rotation & Key Transit Times

2.1 Full Port Rotation

The port rotation of the OCR service is: Kobe → Nagoya → Yokohama → Xiamen → Yantian → Rotterdam → Hamburg → Southampton → Nansha → Kobe. The route covers key foreign trade ports in Japan and South China, as well as three major gateway ports in North Europe, allowing customers to reach their destinations directly without transshipment.

2.2 Core Transit Time Details

The OCR service offers competitive transit times, significantly optimizing the efficiency of cross-border cargo transportation:

From Yokohama: 38 days to Rotterdam, 41 days to Hamburg, 45 days to Southampton.
From Yantian: 32 days to Rotterdam, 35 days to Hamburg, 38 days to Southampton.

By minimizing reliance on transshipment hubs, the OCR service reduces potential delays and ensures a more streamlined flow of goods from Asian production centers to European consumer markets.

3. Strategic Significance of the OCR Service

The launch of the Ocean Rise Express (OCR) highlights the strategic importance of Asia-Europe trade within CMA CGM’s global network. It strengthens the connectivity between Asia and Europe, addresses the critical need for more efficient and reliable shipping routes on the key east-west trade axis, and is particularly beneficial for sectors requiring high-precision logistics, such as automotive, electronics and high-tech industries in Japan and South China.

Bo Wegener, Chief Executive Officer of CMA CGM Asia Pacific, stated: “The launch of Ocean Rise Express highlights the strategic importance of the Asia-Europe trade within CMA CGM’s global network. The enhanced Asia-Europe connectivity underscores our commitment to delivering greater value and reliability to our customers, while further strengthening our position as a trusted partner in global trade.”

4. Value for Shippers

For shippers engaged in trade between Japan, South China and North Europe, the OCR service brings multiple core benefits:

Enhanced schedule reliability, reducing supply chain uncertainty.
Optimized transit times, accelerating cargo delivery and improving time-to-market.
Direct connection without transshipment, lowering transportation costs and risks.
Green shipping support through LNG-powered vessels, aligning with global low-carbon development trends.