CMA CGM’s New LNG-Powered Megaship Sets Cargo Record

CMA CGM Jaques Saad in Singapore, October 12, 2020. Photo courtesy CMA CGM

The world’s first natural gas-powered containership has also just set a new world record for the highest number of full containers loaded on a single vessel.

The LNG-powered CMA CGM Jacques Saad was recently delivered by Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation. With capacity of 23,000 TEU, the 400-meter-long ship is the largest containership to be powered by cleaner burning Liquified Natural Gas (LNG).

CMA CGM says the vessel departed Singapore this week carrying a whopping 20,723 “full” containers, which, if confirmed, would set a new world record for the greatest number of containers ever carried by a ship.

The vessel operates on CMA CGM’s flagship French Asia Line (FAL 1), connecting Asia with Europe.

Awesome view of our #CMACGMJacquesSaadé, the world’s largest LNG-powered vessel in Singapore today.

She already was a technological marvel, she’s now a record breaker too!

More than 21,000 containers: an all-time record set by the #CMACGMJacquesSaadé. pic.twitter.com/LUD8T1QirR

— CMA CGM Group (@cmacgm) October 12, 2020

Due to its size and the fact that it is powered by LNG, setting new world records comes with the territory. The Jacques Saad is powered by the largest and most powerful LNG-fueled engine, the X92DF developed by WinGD, which holds the title of the powerful two-stroke dual fuel engine delivering a whopping 63,840 kW of power.

Cleaner burning liquefied natural gas has been viewed as a transitioning fuel in the shipping industry’s efforts to decarbonize. It is also compliant with the IMO’s .5% sulphur limit, reducing emissions of sulfur oxides and fine particles by 99%, and nitrogen oxides emissions by up to 85% compared to conventional fuels.

CMA CGM Jacques Saad is the first of nine LNG powered, 23,000 TEU containerships ordered in 2017 at CSSC yards. In order to fuel the vessels, CMA CGM and French energy group Total have signed a 10-year strategic procurement contract for the supply of 300,000 metric tons of LNG fuel per year at the Port of Rotterdam using a specialized LNG bunkering ship.

She already was a technological marvel, she’s now a record breaker too!

Our #CMACGMJacquesSaadé will depart for North Europe, and Mediterranean with more than 21,000 TEUs.
A record-breaking voyage between Singapore and Europe. Kudos to the operators.#LNG #Shipping #CMACGM pic.twitter.com/von5NkXvSS

— CMA CGM Group (@cmacgm) October 12, 2020