Total and CMA CGM announced that they have signed an agreement covering the supply of around 0.3 MMT/Y of LNG for 10 years starting in 2020. “This unprecedented volume in the history of LNG bunker will fuel CMA CGM's nine newbuild container ships, scheduled for delivery beginning 2020 onwards.”
CMA CGM, the first shipping company in the world to equip its giant container ships (capacity of 22,000 TEUs) with LNG propulsion, has selected Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions for these future supply operations.
“By selecting LNG as a fuel today, CMA CGM is opting for a solution that will outperform the sulfur cap of 0.5% required in 2020,” according to the French shipping company’s statement.
Under the agreement, Total will provide a tailor-made solution for LNG supply as it “is currently considering chartering on long-term basis a LNG bunkering vessel that would not only deliver fuel to CMA CGM in Europe, but also to other customers in the same region.”
The new supply chains created would lead to a wider use of LNG, especially in other shipping sectors, to achieve even greater and ambitious environmental responsibility, the parties have remarked, adding that “CMA CGM has already reduced its carbon emissions per container transported per kilometer by 50% between 2005 and 2015. It has now introduced a far-reaching plan for a further 30% reduction by 2025.”
CMA CGM has also reminded that its decision is fully aligned with the Paris Agreement and the talks currently under way at the international level. LNG offers a range of environmental advantages, including a 99% reduction in sulfur oxide (SOx) and fine particulate matter emissions. It also substantially reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and significantly decreases carbon emissions. LNG will play a growing role in the energy mix of the shipping world.
Backgrounds:

On 19-Oct-2016, CMA CGM and Engie announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to promote LNG as the marine fuel for tomorrow’s container vessels.
Under the signed MOU, “a joint CMA CGM and Engie technical and economic study on LNG as a fuel for tomorrow’s container ships; a study about the development of engineering specifications for a bunkering vessel adapted to LNG powered container ships, so as to improve over time the logistics chain necessary to fueling this type of vessels, thus promoting their deployment.”
The two groups consider that the use of LNG as a marine fuel is destined to expand in the near future and intend to be active players in this development.
On 1-Feb-2017, CMA CGM and Total signed a cooperation agreement to examine the most environmentally responsible propulsion solutions to meet the International Maritime Organization’s 2020 implementation date for new sulfur regulations.