Foreship’s expertise in enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability will play a pivotal role in optimizing the performance of two new ro-pax ferries upon their deployment for west Mediterranean services linking Marseille and Corsica in 2027.
These vessels, set to be delivered to La Méridionale, a subsidiary of CMA CGM, will feature advanced powerplants capable of supporting dual fuel strategies for low-carbon operations at sea. Moreover, they will be equipped with sufficient battery capacity to facilitate zero-emission port operations.
With a passenger capacity of 1,000 and the ability to accommodate 2,500 lane meters of freight, these 180-meter-long ships have been designed to modernize operations on the Marseille-Corsica route.
Foreship was commissioned to provide concept design work, developing the general arrangement and outline specifications for the ships, and assisting CMA CGM in negotiations with the shipyard.
“These ships will feature state-of-the-art dual-fuel engines, but what makes them especially significant from the perspective of their immediate environmental impact will be the large 13 MWh battery energy storage system on board. The system will be sufficient to sustain hotel loads during calls in Corsica, while shore charging is only available in Marseille,” stated Joonatan Haukilehto, head of New Technologies, Foreship.
Foreship, a Finnish company, has been engaged by CMA CGM to provide comprehensive naval architecture services throughout the design and construction phases of the project. This includes consulting on stability, energy efficiency, and ensuring compliance with Safe Return to Port regulations.
Joonatan Haukilehto added, “With over 40 shipboard battery projects under its belt, Foreship had offered detailed guidance on the battery pack specifications that will be required to meet the zero-emission in-port performance expected of the La Méridionale duo. Following on from our design projects with Finnlines for the Baltic Sea and with TT-Line for the Bass Strait, we are delighted to support CMA CGM’s initiative to build next-generation, sustainable ro-pax ferries for its western Mediterranean services.”
