CMA CGM will operate the world’s largest dual-fuel powered container ships. The CMA CGM Seine shares the same dimensions as the five-year-old CMA CGM Jacques Saade class, but significantly improves efficiency. The vessel, measuring 399 meters (1,309 feet) in length and 61.3 meters (201 feet) in width, will reduce emissions by 20 percent and almost completely eliminate SOx and particulate matter. Enhanced LNG engine efficiency and a MARK III LNG tank with a capacity of 18,600 cbm give it a range of 19,500 nautical miles. The ship is also fully compliant with IMO Tier III standards.
Cargo handling efficiency has also been improved, increasing capacity by about 764 TEU to 23,876 TEU. This includes 2,200 reefer slots. Containers can be stacked in 24 layers. Fire safety systems for cargo operations have also been upgraded. The ship competes with the first vessels exceeding 24,000 TEU capacity, which were also built in China.
“From the start of construction to unloading at the dock, the timeline was shortened to 4-5 months, significantly ahead of the original construction cycle,” Liu Xuedong, Deputy General Manager of Hudong-Zhonghua Changxing Shipbuilding, told Chinese media. “This vessel was delivered more than six months early, with cycle control at a leading level in the shipbuilding industry.”
The naming and delivery ceremony took place on April 15 in Shanghai. The ship will join the Far East to Europe route.
This is the first of four new vessels being built for CMA CGM in this very large class. Hudong-Zhonghua reports it has already delivered 17 container ships to CMA CGM, including 12 LNG-powered vessels. In total, the shipyard says it currently has 20 ships under construction and a total order book extending to 2029, valued at $19.6 billion.
This new class marks the latest step in CMA CGM’s efforts, with the company stating it has invested nearly $20 billion in ordering ships powered by LNG and methanol. In 2024, the group received 12 new LNG-powered ships and claims that by 2029, its fleet will include 153 vessels capable of using low-emission energy (biogas, biomethanol, and synthetic fuels). CMA CGM currently operates a total fleet of about 670 ships, with orders placed for 100 additional vessels.
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