French shipping giant CMA CGM has ordered four more ultra-large LNG-powered containerships and also methanol-fueled vessels at CSSC’s yards in China. The orders are worth more than $3.05 billion.
Shipbuilding sources told LNG Prime on Friday that Hudong-Zhonghua will build four 23,000-teu LNG dual-fuel containerships for CMA CGM.
LNG Prime reported on March 23 that CMA CGM was looking to order more LNG-powered giants, as well methanol-fueled vessels in China and South Korea.
Hudong-Zhonghua and Jiangnan already built nine 23,000-teu LNG dual-fuel containerships for CMA CGM.
In June 2021, CMA CGM welcomed the ninth and the last vessel in this series, Sorbonne, in its fleet.
These 400 meters long and 61 meters wide LNG-powered giants feature WinGD’s dual-fuel engines and GTT’s 18,600-cbm fuel tank.
Last year, CMA CGM also ordered four LNG-powered 23,000-teu containerships with the same specifications at Hudong-Zhonghua as well.
Each of these containerships has a price tag of about $250 million and they are scheduled for delivery in 2025 and 2026.
Methanol-fueled vessels
China Chamber of Commerce to the EU said in a social media post that CMA CGM signed the new deals during President Macron’s visit to China on April 6.
Besides the four LNG dual-fuel 23,000-teu vessels, the order includes 12 15,000-teu methanol dual-fuel vessels.
The sources said that Jiangnan will build six methanol-powered vessels, while local media reports suggest that DSIC will also build six vessels.
Jiangnan confirmed in a statement on Saturday that the deals include four LNG dual-fuel 23,000-teu vessels and 12 15,000-teu methanol dual-fuel vessels.
The shipbuilder said this is the first ever order for CSSC for methanol-fueled containerships and the largest containerships order.
Jiangnan said it will build six of these 366 meters long methanol dual-fuel vessels and the total order is worth more than 21 billion yuan ($3.05 billion).
More LNG-powered giants
Besides these four LNG-powered giants, CMA CGM is said to be looking to order more such vessels, the sources said.
This includes up to ten 23,000-teu LNG dual-fuel containerships.
The sources said that Hudong-Zhonghua, Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, and South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering could potentially build these vessels.
(Article updated to include a statement by Jiangnan and more information on additional LNG-powered vessels.)