CMA CGM chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé has announced the entry into the fleet of ten LNG-powered, dual-fuel vessels—each with a capacity of 24,212 TEUs— registering them under the French flag. The ships rank among the largest and most fuel-efficient in global container shipping.

The shipping giant said in the announcement that by choosing France, CMA CGM is making a powerful statement in favor of French maritime and logistical sovereignty on the global stage.

"CMA CGM has decided to register ten new 24,000 TEU vessels, among the largest in the world, under the French flag starting next year. Powered by liquefied natural gas, they reflect our confidence in France's maritime sector and its people, with the recruitment of 135 French seafarers and a strengthened partnership with the French Maritime Academy (ENSM)," said Saadé.

"These vessels will serve two major French ports, Le Havre and Dunkirk, on the Asia–Northern Europe route, reinforcing our presence in France at a time when the sea plays an increasingly strategic role in global economic and geopolitical dynamics."

CMA CGM noted that the decision also illustrates the Group's determination to strengthen France's maritime competitiveness, reaffirming the national flag as a driver of attractiveness, investment, and innovation in the service of France's maritime ambitions. These vessels will operate under French law in terms of safety and working conditions.

They also embody the Group's leadership in the energy transition of global shipping.

CMA CGM said the LNG dual-fuel vessels are compatible with biomethane and e-methane, two low-carbon alternative fuels that reduce CO2 emissions by 67% and 85% respectively, while significantly cutting atmospheric pollutants, including sulfur oxides, fine particles, and nitrogen oxides.

The ten vessels will be named after well-known national landmarks, including Notre Dame, the Panthéon, and Versailles as they carry goods and equipment worldwide as part of CMA CGM's expanding fleet.

The others were named CMA CGM Orsay, CMA CGM Luxembourg, CMA CGM Pont Neuf, CMA CGM Versailles, CMA CGM Austerlitz, CMA CGM Nation, CMA CGM Cluny and CMA CGM Longchamp.

Gradually delivered from 2026 onwards, the ten new vessels will be deployed on the Group's flagship route, the French Asia Line (FAL 1), which connects Northern Europe to Asia, with regular calls at Le Havre and Dunkirk.

Sailing under the French flag means that a vessel is registered in France, subject to national law, and under state supervision. It entails crews that include French seafarers, trained and managed according to French standards; compliance with French and European social, fiscal, and environmental rules; and regular inspections by the maritime administration to ensure the vessel’s safety and compliance.

CMA CGM noted that in times of crisis, these ships can also be mobilized as part of the national strategic fleet.