CMA CGM christens newest LNG-fuelled containership

CMA CGM has formally named CMA CGM Baalbeck, a new 85,700DWT LNG-powered container vessel that belongs to a series of six built by HD Hyundai Samho of South Korea.

The French-flagged, Post Panamax vessel spans 272 metres, with a beam of 42.8 metres, a draught of 14.5 metres, and a capacity of 8,000 TEUs. The ship will operate on the CMA CGM's Asia Australia Express service beginning on Friday, February 14.

The sixth and final ship in the series, which also has identical specifications, is scheduled for delivery by November 2025.

In 2024, HD Hyundai Samho delivered four 8,000 TEU vessels for CMA CGM: CMA CGM Pointe Du Piton, CMA CGM Pointe Noire, CMA CGM Pointe Percee, and CMA CGM Petra.

CMA CGM Pointe Du Piton was also part of a joint study with CMA CGM and HD Hyundai Marine Solutions to develop a life cycle assessment (LCA) model for measuring carbon emissions in shipbuilding and shipping. This initiative aims to create a global standard for emissions calculations, with results to undergo third-party verification for transparency and accuracy.