CMA CGM orders six Indian-built LNG vessels for green fleet
These six vessels are engineered to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG), in accordance with global initiatives aimed at decarbonisation.
Rodolphe Saadé (far left); Jose VJ (far right)
French shipping company CMA CGM Group and Cochin Shipyard have concluded a contract for the construction of six 1,700-TEU containerships. These six vessels are engineered to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG), in accordance with global initiatives aimed at decarbonisation.
Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group said, "We are looking to expand our engagement in container manufacturing and ship recycling". He noted that these initiatives are designed to support emerging trade routes like the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
CMA CGM is pivoting its technological future toward the subcontinent by establishing a dedicated research & development (R&D) hub in India alongside Capgemini, the Group aims to leverage local talent to overhaul the global supply chain.
The new hub will concentrate on three key areas: leveraging artificial intelligence to predict and manage logistics bottlenecks, developing digital solutions to enhance the efficiency of maritime operations and port management, and utilising advanced analytics to optimise the customer experience across the entire end-to-end logistics process.
Through its subsidiary CMA Ships, the company has already brought 1,000 Indian seafarers into its fold. The Group plans to increase this number to 1,500 seafarers by the end of 2026, cementing India's role as a primary source of maritime expertise for its worldwide fleet.
"CMA CGM stands ready to contribute to this new phase of global trade," said Saadé.