CMA CGM finalizes Cochin Shipyard contract for six LNG-fueled containerships

Image: CMA CGM

The CMA CGM Group has now followed through on the letter of intent it signed last October covering the construction of six state-of-the-art LNG-fueled 1,700 TEU containerships at India’s Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).

The final contract was signed during a visit to India by the CMA CGM Group’s Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé, in the presence of Shri Shantanu Thakur – Minister of State at India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

“I am pleased to be in India to deepen the strategic partnership, which has linked CMA CGM and India for nearly four decades,” said Saadé. “Today, we are strengthening our shipbuilding cooperation with Cochin Shipyard through the signing of six LNG-powered container vessels. At the same time, we are looking to expand our engagement in container manufacturing and ship recycling. This is fully aligned with Prime Minister Modi’s Maritime Vision 2047 to position India as a major maritime nation. As corridors such as India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) develop, connecting India to the Middle East and Europe, CMA CGM stands ready to contribute to this new phase of global trade.”

The Cochin Shipyard order makes the group the first major foreign carrier to commission LNG-fueled vessels from an Indian shipyard.

All six vessels will be registered under the Indian flag. The group has already recruited 1,000 Indian seafarers, with plans to onboard 1,500 more by the end of 2026.

The new vessels from Cochin Shipyard will be delivered from 2029 to 2031, in line with the group’s fleet renewal and energy transition strategy.

Building on this strategic milestone, CMA CGM is actively exploring opportunities to partner with key stakeholders across India on initiatives designed to strengthen the country’s container manufacturing capabilities, promote sustainable ship recycling and support the development of domestic container shipping.

AI SUMMIT

CMA CGM is participating in this week’s Indian AI Summit and says that it will develop its innovation presence in India to actively leverage artificial intelligence, digital solutions, and advanced analytics to transform the entire supply chain, from maritime operations and port efficiency to logistics optimization and customer experience.

As part of this commitment, in partnership with Capgemini, CMA CGM has established a dedicated Research & Development (R&D) hub in India, positioning the country as a key global center for innovation within the group. The India R&D hub plays a critical role in developing next-generation digital and AI-enabled solutions that support CMA CGM’s worldwide operations