CMA CGM - Experts & Thought Leaders

Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII) announced Royal Caribbean Group, a vacation industry pioneer with a global fleet, has become the latest member to join the cross-sectoral methane abatement initiative. The company is expected to provide valuable insights and support MAMII's ongoing efforts to develop and implement effective methane emission reduction strategies across the maritime industry. Reduction of methane emissions Addressing methane emissions is a key priority for the sector; as transitional fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) are increasingly adopted, pioneers are focused on the reduction of methane emissions to reduce the environmental impact of the value chain. Established in 2022, and led by Safetytech Accelerator, MAMII unites industry pioneers, technology innovators, and maritime stakeholders to develop technologies that monitor, measure, and mitigate methane emissions from LNG-powered ships. Challenges to reduce environmental impact Royal Caribbean Group joins a growing roster of members including BP, CMA CGM, GTT Royal Caribbean Group joins a growing roster of members including BP, CMA CGM, GTT, Lloyd’s Register, Capital Gas, MSC, NYK Lines, and Shell, reflecting the initiative’s broad industry engagement. Steve Price, Programme Director at Safetytech Accelerator, commented: “Methane abatement is an urgent challenge as we work to reduce the maritime sector's environmental impact. Methane’s significant contribution to climate warming makes this an issue we cannot overlook. With Royal Caribbean Group on board, we gain a partner that shares our determination to drive innovation and collaboration in addressing this critical issue.” Net zero emissions by 2050 "We are excited to join industry leaders and collaborate on the MAMII initiative, which we believe will play a critical role in information sharing and tool development needed to manage methane emissions,” said Palle Laursen, executive vice president and head of marine, Royal Caribbean Group. “We are committed to industry collaboration and partnerships like this are key to achieve Destination Net Zero, our decarbonisation strategy to reach net zero emissions by 2050.” MAMII recently published a report examining the scale of methane slip in LNG-fueled vessels and the technologies available to tackle it. The report, available here, serves as a call to action for industry leaders to join the effort in combating methane emissions.

Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a Lifecycle Agreement with CMA Ships, a subsidiary of pioneering French shipping company CMA CGM. The agreement covers 14 large LNG-fuelled container ships already in operation. The order with Wärtsilä was booked in Q1 2025. In today’s global environment, owner and operators of container vessels are focused on optimising operations and maintenance more effectively so that their vessels can continue to operate flexibly, and in the most efficient way possible. Management of new fuels The scope of the agreement with CMA Ships will ensure operational reliability The scope of the agreement with CMA Ships will ensure operational reliability, whilst providing maintenance planning flexibility and long-term cost predictability. “The management of new fuels such as LNG can be complex and costly. This agreement with Wärtsilä will help us secure ship operations and optimise engine maintenance costs. We appreciate the cooperation and support that Wärtsilä continues to provide us in meeting our customer needs as effectively as possible,” says Xavier Leclercq, Vice President, Newbuilding, CMA CGM. Use of Wärtsilä’s Expert Insight service Under the terms of the agreement, Wärtsilä will provide a full-service package that secures reliable operations at a fixed and minimised cost. The support provided by the agreement will be based on the use of Wärtsilä’s unique Expert Insight service, which leverages AI technology for predictive maintenance helping to improve asset efficiency and reduce operating costs. It will also provide parts and maintenance services, dynamic maintenance planning and 24/7 remote operational support. Sustainable shipping services Wärtsilä will provide a full-service package that secures reliable operations at a fixed cost “Our partnership with CMA CGM has been long and mutually successful and we are pleased to continue it with this new agreement," comments Andrea Morgante, Vice President, Performance Services - Wärtsilä Marine. “CMA CGM are well known for delivering reliable, flexible and sustainable shipping services around the globe. It’s why this agreement has been tailored to meet their specific needs, giving them the peace of mind that their ships will continue to meet customer expectations.” WinGD 2-stroke main engines The 14 operational vessels, which sail between Asia and Europe, comprise five 15,000 TEU ships and nine 23,000 TEU ships.  All ships operate with WinGD 2-stroke main engines and Wärtsilä 4-stroke auxiliary engines plus gas valve units (GVUs).

Technology group Wärtsilä has introduced its new EnviroPac feature for the Wärtsilä 34DF constant-speed engine. The feature is designed to significantly reduce methane emissions while maintaining the engine’s high-power output and compliance with IMO Tier 3 NOx requirements.  The first order for engines with this new feature has been placed by the French shipping company CMA CGM. The engines will be installed in eight new LNG-operated container vessels being built at the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) yard in China. Future carbon-neutral alternatives LNG plays a key role as a transition fuel, bridging the gap between conventional diesel fuels The engine order for the first two vessels was booked by Wärtsilä’s joint venture company, CWEC (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., (‘CWEC’) in Q4 2024. As ship operators and owners strive for more sustainable operations, LNG plays a key role as a transition fuel, bridging the gap between conventional diesel fuels and future carbon-neutral or carbon-free alternatives. However, the main component of LNG is methane and when burned as a fuel, a very small amount may not combust properly, pioneering to methane escaping into the atmosphere. Overall GHG emissions Across the shipping industry, cutting methane emissions is one of the most effective ways to decrease overall GHG emissions from engines over the next 10 years, complementing other efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. When operating with LNG fuel, the EnviroPac feature cuts methane emissions in half, compared to the standard Wärtsilä 34DF engine. This is without altering the existing power output of 520 kW per cylinder. Latest technology from Wärtsilä The EnviroPac feature is open for new and latest versions of existing Wärtsilä 34DF constant speed engines In addition to the environmental benefit, the reduction in emissions has an impact on costs when operating in EU waters since it results in lesser penalties under both the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) and FuelEU Maritime (FEUM). The EnviroPac feature is available for both new and latest versions of existing Wärtsilä 34DF constant speed engines. “This is a very important development that will have a major beneficial impact on our operations,” says Xavier Leclercq, Vice President, Newbuilding, CMA CGM. “We are working hard to minimise the environmental footprint throughout our fleet, and this latest technology from Wärtsilä provides strong support to these efforts.” Wärtsilä 34DF EnviroPac engines The eight 9200TEU LNG-powered vessels will each operate with two 6-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF and two 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF EnviroPac engines, as well as the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems. The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for delivery to the yard commencing in early 2026. “We are proud to launch this new EnviroPac feature for our already efficient Wärtsilä 34DF engine. Our long-standing relationship with CMA CGM is once again enhanced with this order, and we complement them on their vision for actively achieving sustainability throughout their fleet,” comments Stefan Nysjö, Vice President of Power Supply, Wärtsilä Marine.