French shipping line CMA CGM has confirmed it has equipped one of its largest containerships, the CMA CGM Marco Polo, with a very large windshield on the bow and will assess its effect over the next six months on fuel consumption.The purpose of the windshield is to increase the ship’s aerodynamics.
If it succeeds in documenting a positive effect, the plan is to equip other ships with a similar windscreen.
The windshield experiment is another example of CMA CGM’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its fleet. The company has been investing in LNG-fueled ships since 2017 and it currently has 20 ships capable of running on LNG and biomethane, with engines that are also capable of running on carbon neutral e-methane instead of LNG. By the end of 2024, CMA CGM’s “e-methane ready” fleet is expected to grow to 44 ships.
Ocean Network Express (ONE), a consortium consisting of Japan’s three biggest carriers NYK Line, “K” Line and MOL, is also testing a windshield on a large containership.
(Image from CMA CGM)
