Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua has recently introduced a state-of-the-art LNG dual-fuel container vessel with a capacity of 13,000 TEUs, commissioned by CMA CGM.
The vessel named CMA CGM Belem was successfully launched on January 29, 2024, at the Changxing Shipbuilding Base, surpassing the original schedule by four days. This LNG-powered container ship, commissioned by French shipping giant CMA CGM, boasts a total length of 336 meters and a width of 51 meters. Its advanced features include a 14,000 cubic meter Mark III LNG cargo tank.
The vessel is propelled by the CMD-WinGD9X9DF-2.0 main engine and incorporates an intelligent controlled exhaust gas recirculation (ICER) system. This innovative system is designed to reduce methane escape in gas mode by approximately 50%, contributing to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by more than 28%.
CMA CGM Belem represents the fifth unit in a series of six dual-fuel LNG-powered container ships, part of a larger $2.3 billion agreement made in April 2021. The fourth ship in this series, named CMA CGM Bahia, was delivered in December 2023, while the construction of the sixth and final vessel began in May 2023.
In April 2023, CMA CGM extended its collaboration with Chinese shipyards, entering into a significant $3.06 billion contract with the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). This new deal includes the construction of sixteen large container ships, comprising twelve 15,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel vessels and four 23,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships.
