French shipping and logistics major CMA CGM has placed its first order for methanol-powered vessels in an effort to expand its energy mix and become carbon neutral by 2050.
The company revealed it decided to order a total of six 15,000 TEU dual-fuel methanol-powered containerships from an unnamed shipbuilder.
The newbuilds are planned to join the CMA CGM fleet by the end of 2025.
“CMA CGM is thus accelerating its decarbonization trajectory by investing massively in gas and methanol fuels. The two sectors will be complementary for decarbonizing shipping industry in the years to come,” the company said.
In addition to the six methanol-fuelled ships, CMA CGM also ordered ten dual-fuel liquefied natural gas- (LNG) powered vessels, bringing its orderbook to 69 ships.
The French company has been so far primarily focused on ordering LNG fuelled vessels to reduce atmospheric pollutant emissions. However, it is now diversifying its energy sources by joining its counterpart Maersk in ordering a methanol-powered fleet.
In 2021 and 2022, Maersk ordered eight + four large ocean-going boxships capable of being operated on carbon-neutral methanol. It also entered into numerous strategic partnerships to secure green fuel supply for the methanol-fuelled ships.
Source: Offshore Energy