CMA CGM books 6-unit-strong LNG-fueled fleet in India

French shipping and logistics major CMA CGM Group has signed a letter of intent (LOI) for six LNG-powered containerships to be built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in India.

This strategic move makes the group the first major foreign carrier to commission LNG vessels from an Indian shipyard. All six vessels will be registered under the Indian flag. They will be delivered from 2029 to 2031, in line with the group’s fleet renewal and energy transition strategy.

The newbuilds, each with a capacity of 1,700 TEUs, are said to demonstrate CMA CGM’s commitment to a more sustainable shipping as they can run on LNG and are ready for low-carbon fuels, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with the group’s ambition to be net zero carbon by 2050.

The project at Cochin Shipyard will also be run with the technical cooperation of South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

Furthermore, this initiative is said to underscore CMA CGM’s “strong commitment” to India’s maritime vision and strategic national priorities, including Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. The group is actively investing across