On the occasion of the 20th edition of the Assises de l’Économie de la Mer, Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the CMA CGM Group, announced the entry into the fleet and registration under the French flag (French International Register – RIF) of ten Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) dual-fuel vessels, each with a remarkable capacity of 24,212 TEUs, among the largest and most energy-efficient in the world. By choosing France, CMA CGM is making a powerful statement in favor of French maritime and logistical sovereignty on the global stage.
Rodolphe Saadé declared: “CMA CGM has decided to register ten new 24,000 TEU vessels, among the largest in the world, under the French flag starting next year. Powered by liquefied natural gas, they reflect our confidence in France’s maritime sector and its people, with the recruitment of 135 French seafarers and a strengthened partnership with the French Maritime Academy (ENSM). These vessels will serve two major French ports, Le Havre and Dunkirk, on the Asia–Northern Europe route, reinforcing our presence in France at a time when the sea plays an increasingly strategic role in global economic and geopolitical dynamics.”
A pioneering choice, reflecting the CMA CGM Group’s maritime ambition
This decision illustrates the Group’s determination to strengthen France’s maritime competitiveness, reaffirming the national flag as a driver of attractiveness, investment, and innovation in the service of France’s maritime ambitions.
These vessels, among the largest container ships in the world, will operate under French law in terms of safety and working conditions, thus upholding the excellence and influence of the French flag.
They also embody the Group’s leadership in the energy transition of global shipping. These LNG dual-fuel vessels are compatible with biomethane and e-methane, two low-carbon alternative fuels that reduce CO21 emissions by 67% and 85% respectively, while significantly cutting atmospheric pollutants, including sulfur oxides, fine particles, and nitrogen oxides. Thanks to their large capacity, which improves carbon intensity, these vessels concretely illustrate the CMA CGM Group’s commitment to more sustainable and responsible shipping.
Ten vessels named after landmarks, symbols of French and European excellence
These ships will carry French know-how and goods across the world, strengthening France’s ties with global trade.
Each will bear the name of an iconic French monument or landmark: CMA CGM NOTRE DAME, CMA CGM PANTHÉON, CMA CGM ORSAY, CMA CGM LUXEMBOURG, CMA CGM PONT NEUF, CMA CGM VERSAILLES, CMA CGM AUSTERLITZ, CMA CGM NATION, CMA CGM CLUNY et CMA CGM LONGCHAMP.
They symbolize national pride, shared heritage, and the spirit of ambition that drives maritime France.
From their design stage, the construction of these vessels has mobilized a network of European and French suppliers, including GTT for the LNG tanks and Bureau Veritas for certification.
The French flag: a commitment to employment, with 135 additional French seafarers
Registration under the French International Register is not merely administrative. It creates genuine operational, human, and economic ties.
These ships will enable the Group to recruit at least 135 French seafarers, trained notably at the ENSM, while strengthening CMA CGM’s contribution to the attractiveness of the blue economy sector, generating economic benefits and indirect employment.
Gradually delivered from 2026 onwards, the ten new vessels will be deployed on the Group’s flagship route, the French Asia Line (FAL 1), which connects Northern Europe to Asia, with regular calls at Le Havre and Dunkirk.
The maritime industry, The maritime industry, a cornerstone of French sovereignty
As the world’s second-largest maritime domain, France boasts a world-class maritime ecosystem: shipowners, ports, shipyards, and equipment manufacturers. This industry is a cornerstone of France’s logistical, industrial, and technological sovereignty. It is essential to ensuring strategic supply chains and supporting French talent and businesses in their international development.
As a global player, the CMA CGM Group proudly flies the French flag on seas around the world.
What does the French flag mean?
Sailing under the French flag means that a vessel is registered in France, subject to national law, and under state supervision. It entails crews that include French seafarers, trained and managed according to the highest standards; compliance with French and European social, fiscal, and environmental rules; and regular inspections by the maritime administration to ensure the vessel’s safety and compliance. In times of crisis, these ships can also be mobilized as part of the national strategic fleet.
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