French carrier CMA CGM has followed in ONE’s footsteps by installing windshields on its large ships.
According to Alphaliner’s latest report, released today, the 2012-built 16,000 TEU CMA CGM Marco Polo, has been fitted with windshields while being dry docked in Yiu Lian Dockyard in Shekou, China, at the end of 2022. The retrofitted ship then resumed service on OCEAN Alliance’s Asia-US East Coast service.
Mitsui OSK Lines, whose container shipping business is now part of ONE, is a pioneer in the usage of windshields, which is said to reduce bunker consumption by as much as 4% under ideal conditions, with real-life gains probably closer to 2 or 3%.
Last year, ONE installed windshields on its 20,170 TEU sister ships ONE Trustand ONE Tradition, both of which ply the Far East-North Europe lane.
CMA CGM Marco Polo is powered by a Wartsila-Sulzer – 14 RTflex 96-C – Doosan main engine that initially provided 80,000 kW for a service speed of over 24 knots.
Alphaliner said that it is likely that the engine has been modified to improve efficiency at lower service speeds. In 2019, CMA CGM Marco Polo was already retrofitted with scrubbers.
“It remains to be seen whether the retrofit is a one-off test or whether CMA CGM intends to install windshields on additional vessels,” said Alphaliner.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
