CMA CGM, Nike and Vietnamese port operator Gemadept have launched a new fully electric container barge for inland waterway transport in Vietnam.

The project was officially announced on October 29, 2026, and is designed to reduce emissions across Nike’s logistics supply chain.

The electric barge will connect Nike’s inland logistics operations in Ho Chi Minh City with the deepwater Gemalink container terminal in Cai Mep.

The full round-trip distance is approximately 180 kilometres.

The barge operates entirely on battery power and produces no direct greenhouse gas emissions while sailing.

Electricity used for charging will come from certified renewable energy sources.

A dedicated solar power facility has also been integrated at Gemalink to support the barge’s charging infrastructure.

According to the companies involved, the new transport solution is expected to reduce emissions by approximately 778 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

The barge is designed to transport more than 50,000 TEU annually.

The project is intended to provide an alternative to road transport for containers moving between inland logistics facilities and the deepwater port.

Using inland waterways can help reduce road congestion, fuel consumption and emissions associated with truck transportation.

The vessel was developed with support from CMA CGM’s New Build and R&D teams.

Its battery system uses technology supplied by CATL.

According to CMA CGM, a full battery charging cycle takes around four hours.

The project combines three key elements: an electric vessel, dedicated charging infrastructure and renewable energy generation at the terminal.

This integrated approach is designed to reduce not only emissions from the barge itself, but also the carbon footprint of the electricity used to power it.

For Nike, the new route forms part of the company’s broader efforts to decarbonise its international logistics network.

For CMA CGM, the project expands the group’s intermodal logistics activities in Vietnam.

The company currently operates around 29 weekly mainline shipping services calling at seven Vietnamese ports.

CMA CGM, Nike and Gemadept are also considering whether the same model could be deployed in other regions and for additional cargo owners.

Fixed inland routes are particularly suitable for battery-electric vessels because distances are predictable and permanent charging infrastructure can be installed at key terminals.

The launch of the electric container barge in Vietnam shows how battery-electric propulsion is moving beyond pilot projects and into real commercial logistics operations.