Bureau Veritas (BV) informed that it has been awarded the classification of CMA CGM’s new 22,000 TEU LNG containerships.
Recently, French containership giant CMA CGM Group announced its intention to equip its nine newbuilds, to be delivered in 2020, with engines using liquefied natural gas. The ships will have a bunker capacity close to 18,000 cubic metres (cbm) and this represents a significantly higher volume than has been required in the LNG fueled ship market.
Bureau Veritas has investigated the feasibility of the design together with shipbuilding group China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and GTT, the containment system designer.
‘This is a breakthrough order for gas fueled shipping –both in scale and in the use of a membrane containment system. Bureau Veritas has been supporting the project throughout, providing assistance to ensure the requirements for the safe use of LNG are addressed,’ said Philippe Donche-Gay, President, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore.
CMA CGM mentioned that its decision to fuel these containerships with LNG fuel is part of the company’s strategy to comply with the sulphur cap limit to 0.5% in 2020 and is in accordance with the Paris Agreement and the ongoing discussions at the international level. The company claimed that it will be the first shipping company in the world to equip giant containerships with LNG propulsion.
