China’s Hudong-Zhonghua has kicked off the construction of a new series of 23,000-teu LNG dual-fuel containerships for French shipping giant CMA CGM.
The shipbuilder held the steel-cutting ceremony on November 17 for the vessel with a working name H1904A on November 17.
Hudong-Zhonghua said this is the first of four 23,000-teu vessels CMA CGM ordered last year.
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, as well as 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.
CMA CGM Bahia
Hudong-Zhonghua said in separate statement that the 13,000-teu LNG-powered containership, CMA CGM Bahia, has completed its gas trials on November 17.
This is the first of six 13,000-teu LNG-powered containerships Hudong-Zhonghua is building for CMA CGM.
The Chinese shipbuilder launched this LNG-powered containership in May this year.
Hudong-Zhonghua and Jiangnan Shipyard are each building six LNG-powered ships for CMA CGM as part of a deal revealed in April 2021, but the six vessels at Jiangnan have a capacity of 15,000 units.
Moreover, the new LNG-powered vessels also feature GTT’s Mark III containment system and WinGD’s dual-fuel propulsion.
The vessel’s LNG tanks have a capacity of 14,000 cbm.
Hudong-Zhnoghua said that CMA CGM Bahia is equipped with the world’s first CMD-WinGD9X9DF-2.0 main engine.
Following delivery, it will be the largest dual-fuel containership operating on South American routes, it said.