CMA CGM will register ten new 24,212 TEU dual-fuel container ships under the French flag, marking a major investment in France’s maritime sector and energy transition ambitions.
Announced by Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé at the Assises de l’Économie de la Mer in Le Havre, the vessels will be among the largest and most energy-efficient in the world.
They will run on LNG and are compatible with biomethane and e-methane, offering a pathway to lower-carbon operations.
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026, with the ships deployed on CMA CGM’s flagship Asia–Northern Europe route, calling regularly at Le Havre and Dunkirk.
“By registering these new vessels in France, we are reaffirming our confidence in the country’s maritime future and in French seafarers,” Saadé said.
CMA CGM will recruit 135 French seafarers to crew the ships, trained at the French National Maritime Academy (ENSM). Each vessel will carry the name of a French or European landmark — including CMA CGM Versailles, CMA CGM Notre Dame, and CMA CGM Pont Neuf — reflecting the company’s heritage and commitment to French maritime excellence.
The ships have been developed with contributions from French and European suppliers, including GTT for LNG containment systems and Bureau Veritas for classification. According to CMA CGM, operating on biomethane can cut CO₂ emissions by up to 67%, and on e-methane by as much as 85%, compared with conventional fuels.
The company said the move reinforces the strength of the French flag as a symbol of quality, safety, and innovation — and represents another step towards more sustainable global shipping.
