The CMA CGM Group has signed a letter of intent for six LNG-powered containerships to be built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), India.
This strategic move makes the Group the first major foreign carrier to commission LNG vessels from an Indian shipyard. All six vessels will be registered under the Indian flag.
The newbuilds, each with a capacity of 1,700 TEU, are said to demonstrate CMA CGM’s commitment to a more sustainable shipping as they can run on LNG and are ready for low-carbon fuels, significantly reducing GHG emissions, aligning with the Group’s ambition to be Net Zero Carbon by 2050. The project at Cochin Shipyard will be run with the technical cooperation of Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
The CMA CGM Group is actively investing across the Indian maritime value chain, spanning strategic terminals, maritime services, and shipbuilding, while also reflagging vessels under the Indian registry. At the same time, it is enhancing local maritime employment through expanded crewing and manning operations in India. The vessels will be delivered from CSL between 2029 and 2031, in line with the Group’s fleet renewal and energy transition strategy.
Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, said: “I am pleased that CMA CGM is the first international shipping company to order LNG vessels built in India. This milestone reflects the trust we place in India’s industrial and technological capabilities and supports Prime Minister Modi’s ambition to make India a global shipbuilding power. India is a strategic country for CMA CGM, where we invest, train, and innovate. Beyond shipbuilding, we are strengthening our partnerships in logistics, maritime training, and sustainable transport to support India’s growth and contribute to the decarbonisation of global trade.”
Madhu S Nair, CMD Cochin Shipyard, added: “We are pleased that CMA CGM has chosen CSL to be part of this land mark initiative. CSL is committed to deliver high quality vessels with sustainable solutions to meet the market expectation of the future shipping. This project is also of great significance to CSL as we are collaborating with the largest shipbuilding group HD KSOE as the major partner, which further reinforces our commitment to bring the best in class solutions through partnerships, to serve clients across the globe.”
India represents a strategic market for the CMA CGM Group, holding a pivotal position within the Group’s global agency network. Beyond its core shipping operations, the Group is actively investing in India’s port infrastructure, with significant strategic stakes in terminals at Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal (NSFT), near Mumbai, and Mundra Port.
Image: CMA CGM is ordering six dual-fuel feeder vessels from CSL in India (source: CMA CGM)
