CMA CGM GROUP EYES SIX NEW 1700 TEU DUAL-FUEL LNG CONTAINERSHIPS BUILT IN INDIA

The CMA CGM Group has signed a letter of intent for six state-of-the-art LNG-powered containerships to be built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), India.

 

The move makes the group — a global player in sea, land, air, and logistics solutions — the first major foreign carrier to commission LNG vessels from an Indian shipyard. All six vessels will be registered under the Indian flag.

 

The newbuilds, each with a capacity of 1,700 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), demonstrate CMA CGM's commitment to a more sustainable shipping as they can run on LNG and are ready for low-carbon fuels, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with the Group's ambition to be Net Zero Carbon by 2050.

 

The project at Cochin Shipyard will also be run with the technical cooperation of Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

 

In the announcement, CMA CGM noted that this initiative underscores its strong commitment to India's maritime vision and strategic national priorities, including Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

 

"The Group is actively investing across the Indian maritime value chain, spanning strategic terminals, maritime services, and shipbuilding, while also reflagging vessels under the Indian registry," it said.

 

"At the same time, it is enhancing local maritime employment through expanded crewing and manning operations in India."

 

CMA CGM will reflag four vessels under the Indian registry in 2025 and aims to recruit 1,000 Indian seafarers by the end of the year. In 2026, CMA CGM plans to hire an additional 500 Indian seafarers.

 

Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, said: "I am pleased that CMA CGM is the first international shipping company to order LNG vessels built in India. This milestone reflects the trust we place in India's industrial and technological capabilities and supports Prime Minister Modi's ambition to make India a global shipbuilding power."

 

Saadé added that India is a strategic country for CMA CGM, where it invests, train, and innovate.

 

"Beyond shipbuilding, we are strengthening our partnerships in logistics, maritime training, and sustainable transport to support India's growth and contribute to the decarbonization of global trade," the CMA CGM chief added.

 

The partnership between CMA CGM and Cochin Shipyard underscores a mutual dedication to innovation, sustainability, and global maritime excellence.

 

Vessels will be delivered from 2029 to 2031, in line with the Group’s fleet renewal and energy transition strategy.

 

India represents a strategic market for the CMA CGM Group, holding a pivotal position within the Group's global agency network. It has a 34-year presence in the country and plays an essential role in connecting India to global markets through 19 weekly maritime services.

 

The Group is also actively investing in India's port infrastructure, with significant strategic stakes in terminals at Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal (NSFT), near Mumbai, and Mundra Port.

 

The CMA CGM Group also established in India, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, the headquarter of its Global Business Services (GBS) organization, operating as a strategic hub supporting a wide array of functions across shipping, logistics, finance, legal, customer care, and transformation.