CMA CGM orders six LNG-powered containerships in India

French liner major CMA CGM has finalized an order for six LNG-powered containerships at Cochin Shipyard Limited, The Maritime Telegraph reports. The deal expands the group’s footprint in India and supports its decarbonization roadmap.

 

Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saade signed the agreement in New Delhi. It marks the first LNG-fueled containership order placed by a leading global carrier with an Indian shipyard. For Cochin Shipyard, the contract represents a step into LNG-powered boxship construction for a top-tier international client.

 

The six 1,700-TEU vessels will be built with technical support from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. Deliveries are scheduled between 2029 and 2031.

 

Designed to operate on LNG and compatible with lower-carbon fuels, the ships align with CMA CGM’s target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The order also highlights growing confidence in India’s ability to deliver complex, alternative-fuel tonnage.

 

CMA CGM currently employs about 17,000 people in India, operates 19 weekly services linking Indian ports to global trade lanes, and plans to increase its Indian seafarer workforce from 1,000 to 1,500 by the end of 2026.

 

In parallel, the group is setting up an R&D center in partnership with Capgemini, focusing on AI-driven and digital supply chain solutions.

 

The investment supports India’s maritime ambitions under Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

 

Picture: CMA CGM Group