CMA CGM confirms its 22,000 teu newbuilds will feature LNG-fuelled engines
CMA CGM has confirmed what Splash readers already knew for the past three months. Its nine giant 22,000 teu ships to be built in China will feature LNG-fuelled Wartsila engines when they deliver in 2020.
“CMA CGM is becoming the first shipping company in the world to equip giant containerships with this type of motorisation, thus pursuing its firm commitment to the protection of the environment and to ocean conservation,” the Marseille-headquartered line said in a release on Tuesday.
CMA CGM said the gas fuelled ships would emit 25% less CO2 than ships using heavy fuel oil, as well as 99% less sulphur emissions, 99% less fine particles and 85% less nitrogen oxides emissions.
The containerships will be LNG-powered with a few percent of marine gas oil only to be used for the ignition in the combustion chamber.
Between 2005 and 2015, CMA CGM claims to have reduced its CO2 emissions per container transported per kilometer by 50% and has set up plans to further reduce its CO2 emissions by 30% between 2015 and 2025.
Rodolphe Saadé, CMA CGM’s CEO, stated yesterday: “By choosing LNG, CMA CGM confirms its ambition to be a leading force in the industry in environmental protection by being a pioneer in innovative and eco-responsible technologies.”
Now we need CMA CGM to link these vessels up to feeder services provided by Finnish Containerships who have just taken delivery of the first in series of 4 smaller vessels for the North Sea and Baltics. Then both deep-sea and feeder leg would be with LNG – let the battle begin with the major terminals to be the first major transhipment hub fuelling LNG to both deep-sea and feeder vessels.
IMO’s 2020 global sulphur limit feels already obsolete.
Lars Bergqvist – well there is a little way to go yet. CMA CGM: 9 vessels, Containerships: 4 vessels, Global container fleet: 6000 Vessels 🙂
Lars Jensen – Maybe the vessels will fly the flag of Marshall Islands.