French line CMA CGM has signed two strategic agreements with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), in the presence of French president Emmanuel Macron and Chinese president Xi Jinping.
One agreement is for the order of 10 new 15,000 teu containerships at CSSC. The vessels will be delivered from 2021, replacing 10 other vessels in the company’s fleet and will be deployed on the Asia-Mediterranean lines.
Splash reported last month that five of the newbuilds will be fitted with LNG propulsion at Jiangnan Shipyard, priced at $130m per ship, while another five will be built at another unconfirmed CSSC yard, likely Hudong-Zhonghua, fitted with hybrid scrubbers and priced at $110m per ship.
The two parties have also signed an agreement to jointly develop more efficient and environmentally-friendly vessels.
“Through this strategic partnership with the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, we once again opt for LNG propulsion and we reinforce our efforts to develop ever more efficient and environmentally-friendly vessels. We thereby reassert our leading role in the energy transition of the shipping industry,” said Rodolphe Saadé, chairman of the CMA CGM Group.
This new order for 10 #vessels, of which 5 powered by #LNG, will reduce our environmental footprint even more and will replace existing one. @Elysee @cmacgm @EmmanuelMacron
— Rodolphe Saade (@RodolpheSaade) March 25, 2019
With this strategic partnership signed today, we will work with CSSC to develop high performance ships that are even more respectful of the environment. @Elysee @EmmanuelMacron @cmacgm
— Rodolphe Saade (@RodolpheSaade) March 25, 2019
