CMA CGM orders six methanol-fueled ships for sustainable shipping

In its latest move to expedite maritime decarbonization, CMA CGM has ordered six 15,000 TEU dual-fueled methanol-powered ships which are expected to join the company's fleet by 2025, said the global container shipping company, which is also a strong supporter of LNG bunkering.

"This first order for methanol-powered vessels is in line with CMA CGM's strategy to expand its energy mix with the goal of achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2050," CMA CGM said in its latest quarterly results announcement on June 3.

"CMA CGM is thus accelerating its decarbonization trajectory by investing massively in gas and methanol fuels. The two sectors will be complementary for decarbonizing the shipping industry in the years to come," it added.

LNG bunkers, other initiatives

In addition to the six dual fuel methanol-powered ships, the company's fleet will also be reinforced with an order of 10 new dual fuel LNG-powered vessels, taking its total order book to 69 vessels, it said.

In 2017, CMA CGM chose to invest in dual-fuel vessels that currently run on LNG to almost fully reduce emissions of atmospheric pollutants.

The engine installed on these vessels is already compatible with BioLNG derived from biomethane or synthetic methane, including e-methane, it said.

The CMA CGM Group's "e-methane ready" fleet currently has 29 vessels in service and will have a total of 77 by 2026, it said.

To support the growth of its e-methane ready fleet, the group is developing its LNG bunkering port infrastructures.

CMA CGM completed the first ship-to-containership LNG bunkering operation in the Port of Marseille Fos in January, and in the Port of Shanghai in March.

The company has also enforced a ban on the transport of plastic waste on the group's vessels since June 1, it said.

CMA CGM has also launched a biofuel bunkering trial with used cooking oil in Singapore.

The 10,640-TEU vessel -- APL Paris -- was the first of the group's vessels on trial to be bunkered with biofuel in Singapore on Feb. 23.

The company said Feb. 24 that it was set for a trial involving up to 32 ships deployed on multiple trade lanes.

Some of these vessels will be fueled in Singapore with B24 biofuel, which comprises 24% used cooking oil methyl ester in the advanced biofuel blended with conventional fuels, it said then.