China’s Hudong-Zhonghua is moving forward with the construction of a new series of 23,000-teu LNG dual-fuel containerships for French shipping giant CMA CGM.
The shipbuilder held the keel-laying ceremony on Wednesday for the vessel with a working name H1905A.
In addition, Hudong-Zhonghua also held a steel-cutting for the sister ship with a working name H1906A.
According to the shipbuilder, these are the second and third of four 23,000-teu vessels CMA CGM ordered in 2022.
In November 2023, Hudong-Zhonghua started building the first vessel in this series.
CMA CGM is expected to take delivery of these ships in 2025 and 2026.
The vessels will have a total length of 399 meters, a width of 61.3 meters, and a design draft of 14.5 meters.
Such as the previous vessels, these LNG-powered giants feature WinGD’s dual-fuel engines, and GTT’s 18,600-cbm fuel tank.
Hudong-Zhonghua and Jiangnan, both part of CSSC, previously delivered nine 23,000-teu LNG-powered vessels to CMA CGM.
In June 2021, CMA CGM welcomed the ninth and the last vessel in this series, Sorbonne, in its fleet.