French shipping major CMA CGM announced on 4 November 2025 that it will register ten new 24,000 TEU dual-fuel LNG containerships under the French flag, with deliveries starting in 2026. The decision, unveiled by Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé at the 20th Assises de l’Économie de la Mer, underscores the group’s commitment to strengthening France’s maritime sovereignty and global shipping competitiveness.
The new vessels, each with a capacity of 24,212 TEUs, will be deployed on the Asia–Northern Europe route, with regular calls at Le Havre and Dunkirk. Their operation will create 135 jobs for French seafarers trained at the French National Maritime Academy (ENSM).
“Powered by liquefied natural gas, they reflect our confidence in France’s maritime sector and its people,” said Saadé. “These vessels will reinforce our presence in France at a time when the sea plays an increasingly strategic role in global economic and geopolitical dynamics.”
Built to be compatible with biomethane and e-methane, the ships will cut CO₂ emissions by up to 85% compared to conventional fuels and meet the high safety and labor standards of the French International Register (RIF).
The construction program engages key French and European partners, including GTT for LNG tank technology and Bureau Veritas for certification. Each ship will bear the name of an iconic French landmark, such as CMA CGM Notre Dame, Panthéon, Orsay, Luxembourg, Pont Neuf, Versailles, Austerlitz, Nation, Cluny, and Longchamp—a tribute to national heritage and maritime excellence.
CMA CGM said the move is more than symbolic, as it deepens France’s role in global trade, boosts domestic employment and training, and contributes to national industrial resilience amid global supply chain shifts.
