CMA CGM and the energy company TotalEnergies have launched Marseilles’ inaugural ship-to-container ship Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) bunkering operation in the Port of Marseille Fos.
The 15,000 TEU CMA CGM Bali has been refuelled by TotalEnergies’ Gas Vitality, the first LNG bunker vessel based in France, with around 6,000 m3 of LNG, by means of a ship-to-ship transfer alongside the Eurofos container terminal.
At the same time, the ultra large container vessel, which is deployed on the Mediterranean Express MEX 1 service connecting Asia and South Europe, carried out cargo operations.
“This LNG bunkering operation is an important milestone for our group, in many ways, as it sets France and Marseille maritime and port cluster on the frontline for the decarbonisation of shipping,” stated Christine Cabau, executive vice president Operations and Assets of the CMA CGM Group.
Cabau added that the bunkering operation enhances LNG solutions as the first step of a broader industrial strategy and it is proof of the commitment of CMA CGM toward Marseilles and its region.
Prior to this milestone bunkering operation, Gas Vitality which is TotalEnergies’ second chartered LNG bunker vessel, owned by Mitsui O.S.K. (MOL) Lines, was loaded with LNG at Elengy’s Fos Cavaou LNG terminal on 28 December 2021.
In November 2017, Rodolphe Saadé, CMA CGM Group’s chairman and CEO decided to make CMA CGM the world’s first ship-owner to equip its flagship 23,000 TEU vessels with engines using LNG.
The French shipping line has chosen TotalEnergies as part of a major industrial partnership to supply them with gas in Rotterdam, Singapore and Marseille.
By the end of 2024, CMA CGM aims to have a fleet of 44 LNG-powered vessels, “emethane ready” of various sizes, while 24 are already in service.
