LNG-fueled boxship CMA CGM Big Sur christened

French shipping major CMA CGM has held a christening ceremony for the newest addition to its fleet, the containership CMA CGM Big Sur.

As disclosed, the naming ceremony took place in China at China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s (CSSC) Jiangnan Shipyard. The vessel has a capacity of 15,000 TEUs and is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The ship is the fifth vessel in this series after CMA CGM Cedrus, CMA CGM Cape Code, CMA CGM Grace Bay, and CMA CGM Maui joined the French shipping major’s fleet.

In April 2021. CMA CGM ordered 22 containerships worth around $2.3 billion. The contracts were spread across three Chinese shipbuilders, Jiangnan Shipyard, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, and Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry, all subsidiaries of China State Shipbuilding Corporation.

The contract covers the construction of six dual-fuel, LNG-powered, 15,000 TEU containerships, set to be built by Jiangnan Shipyard, followed by six dual-fueled, LNG-powered 13,000 TEU boxships to be built by Hudong Zhonghua.

The remaining ten 5,500 containerships that will be powered by VLSFO, will be constructed by Beihai Shipbuilding.

According to the company, LNG is currently the best solution available to reduce shipping’s carbon footprint and protect air quality. The fuel could allow for a 99% reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions, a 91% reduction in fine particles and a 92% reduction in nitrogen dioxide emissions.

Recently, CMA CGM took another step towards becoming a net-zero firm by creating a €200 million fund dedicated to accelerating the energy transition in the French maritime industry.

The initiative, launched with public sector investment bank Bpifrance, will make it possible to finance decarbonization projects carried out by French industrial, maritime and port players in different segments — fishing, passenger transport, maritime freight, boating, ports and terminals.