CMA CGM intends to order two LNG-fuelled, methanol-ready vessels
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by Admin
The CMA CGM Group, on Wednesday (31 May) said it intends to place an order for two new LNG-powered vessels that is able to run on methanol, following the acquisition of La Méridionale, a mixed-use freight and passenger shipping company established in Marseille since 1931.
“They will also be able to carry out operations with zero CO2 emissions during port calls and are set to replace the oldest vessels on services between Corsica and Marseille, contributing to the preservation of the environment between the island and the mainland,” the firm said.
The firm said the vision for La Méridionale is to provide one of the first “green corridors” in the Mediterranean.
“To that end, the CMA CGM Group will invest in modernising the shipping company’s fleet to improve energy efficiency and reduce its environmental impact,” it said.
As the shipping company running scheduled services to Corsica, La Méridionale currently has four ro-pax vessels, which operate up to 13 weekly crossings between Marseille, Porto Vecchio and Ajaccio, plus connections between Marseille and Morocco.
The firm said the acquisition of La Méridionale complements the new division of the CMA CGM Group dedicated to specialised shipping operations. This division, which reflects CMA CGM’s desire to continue innovating in the shipping sector, encompasses the new car carrier business, the stake in Brittany Ferries, the leading French-flagged passenger and vehicle shipping operator in the Atlantic Arc, as well as the investment in NEOLINE, a Nantes-based company developing the first sail-powered ro-ro vessel, and now La Méridionale.
With this new division, which aims to transport cargo and passengers more sustainably, CMA CGM intends to strengthen its overall decarbonisation efforts.
Photo credit: CMA CGM
Published: 8 June, 2023
