CMA CGM Sues Bunker Supplier For $5M After Faulty Fuel Damages 13 Ships

One of the world’s largest container shipping companies, CMA CGM has filed a lawsuit in a Texas federal court against Houston-based bunker supplier GCC Supply & Trading, demanding over $5 million in damages.

The case involves allegations that contaminated marine fuel supplied in early 2023 caused serious damage to 13 of CMA CGM’s vessels.

According to court documents filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the shipping company took delivery of around 33,628 metric tons of Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) between March and June 2023 at the Port of Houston.

CMA CGM had a contract with GCC for the manufacture, sale and delivery of this marine fuel.

Soon after the fuel was loaded onto their ships, the vessels began experiencing major technical issues. These included fuel pump failures, leakages in the internal combustion unit (ICU), sudden loss of engine power, propulsion problems, and even complete blackouts in some cases.

The company stated in its legal filing that the affected vessels suffered physical damage to various systems, such as fuel tanks, engines, purifiers,