CMA CGM, Nike and Gemadept launch new fully electric barge in Vietnam

CMA CGM on Thursday (29 October) said it has launched a new fully electric barge solution in Vietnam with Nike and Gemadept. 

The vessel is designed to reduce the carbon footprint of inland transportation and contribute to Nike’s supply chain decarbonization efforts.

The 100% electric barge connects Nike’s inland drop-off location in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Binh Duong province) with Gemalink, Gemadept’s deep-sea terminal in Cai Mep, over a 180-kilometer round trip. 

Powered by electric batteries and recharged with certified renewable electricity, the barge is expected to avoid approximately 778 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. 

The integrated solution combines the electric barge, dedicated charging infrastructure and renewable energy production through a solar farm at Gemalink. The barge is designed to transport more than 50,000 TEUs annually, providing a lower-carbon alternative to road transportation for inland cargo movements. The project illustrates the potential of inland waterways to provide more sustainable alternatives for the transportation of goods while improving the environmental performance of supply chains.

Developed by CMA CGM’s New Build and R&D teams, the electric barge incorporates battery technology from CATL and can be recharged in approximately four hours using certified renewable electricity. Its dedicated charging infrastructure at Gemalink is supplied by a solar farm developed at the terminal, creating an integrated solution that combines low-emission transportation with renewable energy production.

The project is designed as a model that can potentially be replicated in other geographies and adapted to other customer supply chains, supporting the broader transition towards more sustainable inland transportation.

Christine Cabau, Executive Vice President Assets and Operations, CMA CGM, said: “Decarbonising global supply chains requires moving beyond ambition to deliver concrete, scalable solutions. This fully electric barge is a powerful example of what can be achieved when shipping companies, customers and terminal operators combine their expertise and commitment. 

“Together with Nike and Gemadept, we are demonstrating that innovative, lower-carbon inland transportation solutions are already within reach. Now, CMA CGM aims to build on this success to accelerate their deployment across other markets and supply chains.”

Cimarron Nix, Chief Sustainability Officer, NIKE, said: “This project with CMA CGM and Gemadept is a great example of how we can work together to turn innovation into practical solutions that reduce our impact while building a more resilient supply chain.”

Do Cong Khanh, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Gemadept Corporation and Chairman of Gemalink Deep-Sea Port, said: “As a leading port and logistics operator in Vietnam, Gemadept believes that the future of sustainable logistics depends on stronger connections among ports, inland waterways and clean energy.

“We believe this model has strong potential to be expanded and replicated, contributing to the long-term transition towards low-carbon logistics in Vietnam.”

Photo credit: CMA CGM
Published: 30 October, 2026