CMA CGM and TotalEnergies Launch LNG JV in Rotterdam

French shipping giant CMA CGM has partnered with energy company TotalEnergies to establish a joint venture for LNG bunkering operations at the Port of Rotterdam.

The 50/50 partnership will involve the shared ownership and operation of a newly constructed LNG bunker vessel with a capacity of 20,000 cubic meters. Scheduled to begin service by late 2028, the vessel will provide LNG refueling services to ships across the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region, serving both CMA CGM’s dual-fuel vessels and third-party clients.

This initiative will leverage TotalEnergies’ established infrastructure in the area, including the Gas Agility, an 18,600-cubic-meter LNG bunkering vessel that has been active in Rotterdam since 2020.

CMA CGM's LNG-powered fleet is expanding rapidly, with projections reaching 123 vessels by 2029. To support this growth and move toward its 2050 net-zero emissions objective, TotalEnergies will supply up to 360,000 tonnes of LNG annually from 2028 through 2040.

“With this joint venture, CMA CGM and TotalEnergies are taking a new step to support the energy transition in shipping. For the first time, a shipping company and an energy provider will jointly operate an LNG bunkering vessel, based in the port of Rotterdam,” said Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and CEO of CMA CGM. “It is a concrete way to scale up alternative fuels and accelerate the decarbonisation of global trade.”

The collaboration between the two companies dates back to 2017 and includes LNG supply agreements in both Rotterdam and Marseille Fos. Over the years, they’ve conducted several key ship-to-ship LNG deliveries at major ports throughout Europe.

TotalEnergies is currently ranked as the third-largest LNG provider globally, with a supply capacity of 40 million tonnes per year.

“LNG is today the most mature and immediately available solution to reduce the environmental footprint of maritime transport. This strategic partnership not only strengthens our position as a major player in LNG bunkering but also illustrates the shared commitment of two leading French companies to actively support the energy transition,” said Patrick Pouyanné, chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies.