CMA CGM Names First French-Flagged LNG Megaship in Le Havre

CMA CGM has officially named its newest LNG-powered container ship, CMA CGM Notre Dame, during a ceremony in Le Havre. The vessel is the largest container ship to sail under the French flag and is the first of 10 LNG-powered ships that will all be registered in France.

The company confirmed that CMA CGM Notre Dame and the remaining nine vessels, which are scheduled for delivery by 2028, will all fly the French flag. CMA CGM also announced plans to hire 135 seafarers to crew the new ships.

The CMA CGM Notre Dame is 399 meters long, has a beam of 61.3 meters, and can carry up to 24,000 TEUs. The vessel features real-time voyage optimization technology and artificial intelligence systems designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce its environmental impact. It will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and deployed on the France-Asia trade route.

CMA CGM has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. According to the company, ultra-large vessels such as CMA CGM Notre Dame offer greater operational efficiency because of their size, while LNG propulsion significantly reduces emissions of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide compared with conventional marine fuels.