The CMA CGM Jacques Saadé, the world’s first LNG-powered containership with a capacity of 23,000 containers (twenty-foot equivalent units), has set a world record for the number of full containers loaded on a single vessel.

In a statement, CMA CGM said on its departure from Singapore last week, the CMA CGM Group’s new flagship was carrying a record 20,723 full containers. A record set by a world leader in shipping and logistics.

It added that the record "reflects the outstanding design" of the CMA CGM's new flagship.

“To carry so many containers we have to be able to stack them 10 or 11 high on the deck, giving rise to strict constraints linked to the vessel’s structure and, crucially, how containers are stowed,” said Marc Olazabal, operations manager, E&W Lines, who directs the Group’s operations, including on the FAL 1 line. 

“The vessel is so well designed that we were able to pile containers of over 10 tons in a 10-high stack, which is outstanding.”

CMA CGM said the Jacques Saadé ship demonstrates the Group’s commitment to energy transition in the shipping industry with LNG currently being the industry’s best available technology for preserving air quality, and also provides an initial response to the challenge of tackling climate change. 

After joining the Group’s fleet on 22 September, the CMA CGM Jacques Saadé is now on her maiden voyage on the CMA CGM Group’s iconic French Asia Line (FAL 1), connecting Asia with Europe. This line provides a weekly service comprising 13 calls over the course of 84 days. 

4,000 movements by 9 different cranes in Singapore

“During the call in Singapore, the 9 cranes in position completed around 4,000 (loading and unloading) movements. All the cranes had to have the same number of movements in order for the operations to be completed at the same time, and to avoid any reduction in our productivity,” Olazabal said.

The CMA CGM Jacques Saadé stands out from other Ultra-Large Containerships (ULCS) like the CMA CGM Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (20,600 TEUs) in that it can carry one extra row of containers. 

“It may not seem like very much, but some ports are not yet equipped with cranes that can reach the final row. That means the ship planner needs to take this into account in the loading plan. It requires intricate planning down to the finest details," he added.