Marseille – The CMA CGM Jacques Saade, the largest LNG-powered container vessel in the world, yesterday joined the fleet of French carrier CMA CGM. The flagship is the first of a series of nine 23,000-TEU vessels. It will start its maiden voyage today on the CMA CGM Group’s French Asia Line (FAL) between Asia and Northern Europe providing weekly service comprising 13 calls over 84 days.
The joining of the fleet of the CMA CGM Jacques Saadé was marked by a first-of-its-kind digital naming ceremony that saw the shipyard’s representatives in Shanghai and CMA CGM Group’s management in Marseille share an emotional landmark moment in their common history. Blessed by Father Francis Fang, the vessel was then officially named by her godmother, Tanya Saadé Zeenny, who wished the ship, the captain and its crew the best of luck on their future voyages with the traditional words: “May God bless this ship and all who will sail on her”.
On the occasion of the mega ship’s coming into service, Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, declared: “The CMA CGM Jacques Saadé embodies our commitment to the planet. This vessel has been enhanced with the latest technologies and is the result of 7 years of research and development. While guaranteeing the safety of our crew, it preserves air quality and will be part of our fight against global warming. It significantly improves the environmental footprint of carried goods. We have taken a big step forward. We need to go further to build transport that is even more respectful of the environment.”
Today, LNG is the most advanced solution when it comes to preserving air quality. It enables a 99% reduction in sulphur dioxide and fine particle emissions, and an 85% reduction in nitrogen dioxide emissions, going well above and beyond existing regulation. LNG emits up to 20% less CO2 compared to fuel motorization. This technology is one of the first steps towards achieving CMA CGM Group’s 2050 ambitious objective of carbon neutrality.
In addition to LNG motorization, the vessels offer advanced technologies: The wheelhouse boasts the latest embedded digital technologies to assist the captain and crew, in particular for port maneuvers. They feature a redesigned straight bow with an integrated bulb, a redesigned rudder, and a redesigned propeller all of which substantially improve the vessels hydrodynamics, thereby reducing energy consumption.
The CMA CGM Jacques Saade, along with its eight 23 000 TEU sister ships (twenty-foot equivalent unit) will be registered at the French International Register (FIR) and bear a specific “LNG Powered” label. They will bear the names of landmark Parisian monuments and other renowned venues and institutions from throughout the French capital (Champs-Élysées, Palais Royal, Louvre, Rivoli, Montmartre, Concorde, Trocadéro, and Sorbonne). CMA CGM has chosen Total as part of a major industrial partnership to supply them with gas. Thereby making CMA CGM the initiator in structuring a genuine LNG field of excellence in maritime transport. (photos CMA CGM)
