Corporate

Foundation

Within the press

India 2021 Humanitarian Operation: the CMA CGM Group and its Foundation transport emergency medical aid

Reading time: 5 min

May 5, 2021

  • An international operation to provide aid for the Indian population affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, as part of the CMA CGM Foundation’s long-term partnership with the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ Crisis and Support Centre.
  • The CMA CGM Group is transporting eight oxygen production units, medical equipment and containers of liquefied oxygen to Indian hospitals for free.
  • An exceptional effort mobilizing all the CMA CGM Group’s shipping, air transport and logistics expertise for this emergency humanitarian operation alongside the French government.

The CMA CGM Group is contributing to international solidarity efforts by delivering oxygen production units, containers of liquefied oxygen and specialist medical equipment by truck, plane and ship.

It all began with French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement of an exceptional solidarity operation to support the people of India who have been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Coordinated by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ Crisis and Support Centre and implemented by the French Embassy in India, the operation consists of delivering to India essential equipment for treating Covid-19 patients.

An unparalleled operation mobilizing the Group’s shipping, logistics and air transportation expertise

Rodolphe Saadé, CEO of CMA CGM, immediately confirms the Group’s commitment and offers to transport medical equipment to India for free. Remaining loyal to its human values, the CMA CGM Group is continuing with its solidarity efforts during the pandemic.

The experience obtained during humanitarian efforts in Lebanon, France and around the world, as well as the Group’s agility and expertise in shipping, air freight and logistics, allow it to take part in this unparalleled operation and offer complementary solutions that are rapid and suited to the situation:

  • Air transportation for the eight oxygen production units using an aircraft from the fleet of CMA CGM AIR CARGO, the Group’s new division.
  • Road transportation for all medical equipment grouped together at a storage site for loading onto the plane, thanks to the teams from CEVA Logistics, the CMA CGM Group’s logistics subsidiary.
  • Shipping for containers of liquefied oxygen onboard one of the CMA CGM Group’s vessels between Qatar and India.

Take-off on May 1 of an airplane from the CMA CGM AIR CARGO fleet

On Saturday, May 1, an airplane from the CMA CGM AIR CARGO fleet took off from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris bound for Delhi. On board were the oxygen production units with capacity to give hospitals complete autonomy for around 10 years. The cargo also included medical equipment, in particular 28 ventilators and 200 electric syringe pumps.

By providing a rapid and flexible solution, CMA CGM AIR CARGO division has demonstrated that it is perfectly suited to offering emergency transportation and to the fast-evolving needs of supply chains.

Humanitarian Operation India

Shipping of containers of liquefied oxygen

CMA CGM also prepares the mobilization of its fleet to transport liquefied oxygen supplied by French company Air Liquide between Qatar and India. The shipping solution proposed by the Group is better suited to the technical constraints of this cargo. The oxygen will arrive a few days later in Mumbai, where it can be distributed to Indian government hospitals and help several thousand patients.

CMA CGM continuing with its efforts to fight the pandemic

The CMA CGM Group has been present in India for over 30 years and close to 5,000 employees in the country. Since the start of the health crisis, which has affected the whole world, the CMA CGM Group has taken action to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The India 2021 humanitarian operation demonstrates the Group’s commitment to local communities in the countries in which it operates.

Subscribe to our news