CMA CGM Launches France’s Largest LNG-Powered Container Ship
French shipping giant CMA CGM has officially christened its newest LNG-powered container ship, CMA CGM Notre Dame, during a ceremony in Le Havre. The vessel is now the largest container ship registered under the French flag and the first of ten next-generation LNG-powered vessels scheduled to enter service by 2028.
The company confirmed that all ten ships in the series will sail under the French flag, reinforcing France’s position in global maritime shipping. As part of the project, CMA CGM also announced plans to recruit 135 French seafarers to operate the new vessels.
With an impressive length of 399 meters, a beam of 61.3 meters, and a capacity of 24,000 TEU, CMA CGM Notre Dame ranks among the largest container ships in the world.
The vessel is equipped with advanced real-time voyage optimization systems and artificial intelligence technologies designed to improve fuel efficiency, optimize routing, and reduce environmental impact throughout each voyage.
Powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the ship significantly reduces emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter, and lowers CO₂ emissions compared with conventional marine fuels.
Following its delivery, CMA CGM Notre Dame will operate on one of the world’s busiest trade routes, connecting France with major ports across Asia.
The vessel is part of CMA CGM’s long-term sustainability strategy as the company continues investing in next-generation ships and alternative fuels to achieve its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
💡 Interesting Fact
At full capacity, a 24,000 TEU container ship can transport the equivalent of more than 240 million pairs of shoes or over 120,000 passenger cars’ worth of components in a single voyage. Thanks to their enormous carrying capacity, ultra-large container ships are also among the most carbon-efficient methods of transporting goods per tonne-mile in global logistics.
