CMA CGM in advanced talks with Indian yards for LNG-powered containerships | Container news

French shipping major CMA CGM is in advanced discussions with Indian shipbuilding entities for LNG-powered container vessels, while major port and inland infrastructure investments are progressing, including a $200m expansion at Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal and engagement in the Vadhavan Port project.

This move is part of the company’s expanding presence and operations in India across shipping, shipbuilding, container terminals, multimodal logistics, and maritime industrial capabilities.

As part of its ambition to expand in India’s shipping market, CMA CGM has flagged off its first Indian-flagged vessels CC Vitoria and CC Manaus and established a new Indian shipping entity at GIFT City, Gujarat.

Last week, the secretary of India’s ministry of ports, shipping and waterways Shri T.K. Ramachandran visited the global headquarters of CMA CGM in Marseille, France.

The visit came in continuation of the prime minister Shri Narendra Modi’s interaction with CMA CGM during his official tour to France in February this year, where India’s growing maritime sector and global partnerships were a key highlight.

During the visit of the secretary in Marseille on June 12, the CMA CGM leadership outlined progress made since February under its India strategy, anchored on five key pillars: Indian-flagged fleet expansion, shipbuilding collaboration, inland logistics development, maritime industrial investment, and innovation.

The company also shared its interest in India’s ship recycling ecosystem, particularly in Alang, and its readiness to source containers and green steel from India in alignment with global sustainability goals.

CMA CGM currently employs over 2,200 digital professionals in India and is exploring the establishment of maritime R&D and innovation hubs across key Indian cities.

The visit provided an opportunity to explore synergies for greater connectivity and innovation in the India-Europe corridor.

At the beginning of this year, at the invitation of the French president Emmanuel Macron, the prime minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, paid a visit to France.

This was prime minister Modi’s sixth visit to France (10-12 February 2025) and follows president Macron’s visit to India in January 2024 as the chief guest for the 75th Republic day of India.

Macron and Modi recalled the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) on the margins of the G20 summit in Delhi in September 2023 and agreed to work together more closely on implementing the initiative.

Both leaders stressed the importance of IMEC to foster connectivity, sustainable growth trajectories and access to clean energy across these regions. In this regard, they acknowledged the strategic location of Marseille in the Mediterranean Sea.