New Maritime Line: WAX in the Port of Kribi
New Maritime Line: WAX in the Port of Kribi
COSCO Shipping launches direct Asia–Africa link through Kribi
Following the recent relaunch of CMA CGM’s ASAF service, the Port of Kribi has welcomed a major new player: the WAX 4 (West Africa Express) line from COSCO Shipping, the world’s 4th-largest shipping company.
⚓ A symbolic and strategic port call
On February 20, 2024, the COSCO KOREA vessel—334 meters long with a capacity of 8,500 TEUs—called at the Kribi container terminal, marking the official launch of COSCO’s direct Asia–West Africa service.
Far from a routine call, this milestone illustrates the growing strategic role of the Port of Kribi as a central hub for intercontinental maritime traffic.
🏆 Kribi’s operational excellence recognized
COSCO’s decision to include Kribi in its rotation is a direct result of the port’s impressive quay performance, driven by:
-
consistent operational excellence,
-
reduced docking and handling times,
-
and streamlined logistics coordination.
These achievements have earned Kribi major industry awards, including “Best Quay Productivity in Africa”, presented on November 9, 2023, in Brussels by the Rebranding Africa Awards jury.
🌍 Strengthening Asia–Africa maritime connectivity
With the arrival of WAX 4, Kribi now offers two direct shipping services to Southeast Asia, alongside CMA CGM’s ASAF line—boosting:
-
frequency,
-
reliability,
-
and logistics competitiveness for cargo operators.
📣 A new growth opportunity for Kribi
According to Michaël MAMA, Director of Operations at the Port Authority of Kribi:
“The arrival of COSCO Shipping Line is a strategic opportunity for us to grow our market share in trade flows to and from East Asia.”
