CMA CGM has launched the first of its groundbreaking 23,000 teu LNG-powered newbuildings.

Rudolphe Saade, chairman and ceo of CMA CGM, tweeted a picture of the CMA CGM Jacques Saade emblazoned with the words “LNG Powered” on the hull.

In the Tweet Saade said with the launching of the first 23,000 teu ship powered by LNG, “we demonstrate that energy transition can be effectively successful in our industry if all the players work together”.

CMA CGM has made a major commitment to LNG as a marine fuel ordering nine 23,000 teu capacity newbuildings, the largest LNG-fuelled vessels of any type built to date. The containerships will mark a shift to using LNG as marine fuel on the main longhaul trades rather than just on regional and coastal trades. The 23,000 teu ships will be deployed on the Asia – Europe trades.

Last week Mathieu Girardin, vice president CMA CGM, told the Global Liner Shipping Asia conference in Singapore, “LNG for us in the energy of the future for shipping. This is really clean energy.”

The first of the 23,000 teu LNG-powered newbuildings is named after CMA CGM founder Jacques Saade.

With the launching of the first 23 000 TEU ship powered by Liquified Natural Gas, we demonstrate that energy transition can be effectively successful in our industry if all the players work together. #LNG #EnergyTransition pic.twitter.com/NkvhhtH0dd

— Rodolphe Saade (@RodolpheSaade) September 25, 2019