This is a world first: the largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-powered containership in the history of maritime transport was launched in Shanghai on Wednesday, September 25.
It is the flagship of the CMA CGM Group and takes the name of the Group’s founder; the CMA CGM JACQUES SAADÉ has a capacity of 23,000 TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent) and is fully powered by LNG.
A major technological breakthrough that illustrates CMA CGM’s commitment to energy transition.
An innovative choice reflecting our ambition
In November 2017, Rodolphe Saadé decided to make CMA CGM the first shipowner in the world to equip its nine future 23,000-TEU vessels with engines powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
With LNG, the Group has made a ground-breaking choice that goes beyond current and future environmental regulations.
In 2022, the CMA CGM fleet will include 20 LNG-powered vessels, including:
•9 vessels of 23,000 TEUs (delivery from 2020)
•5 vessels of 15,000 TEUs
•6 vessels of 1,400 TEUs, of which 3 have already been delivered to Containerships, the Group’s intra-Europe expert subsidiary
What is LNG ?
LNG is a clean energy, currently considered as the least polluting type of fossil fuel. A substitute for fuel oil, LNG reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves air quality by limiting polluting emissions.
Why did we choose LNG for our vessel ?
A real technological breakthrough contributing to environmental protection, LNG offers the following benefits over existing fuel oil-powered ships:
•Reduction of up to 20% in CO2 emissions;
•99% reduction in sulphur emissions;
•99% reduction in fine particles emissions;
•85% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions.
In addition, the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), which measures the environmental footprint of a vessel, is improved by 20% compared to a conventional vessel.
The result is a reduced carbon footprint and improved air quality, particularly for populations living in coastal areas and in port cities.
An unprecedented shipbuilding method!
A world first, the CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE is built around the tank which will contain the 18,000 m³ of LNG required for round-trip voyages on the Asia-Europe routes on which the ship will be operated.
Included in the structure of the vessel itself, it has an internal stainless steel coating to resist the extreme temperatures (-161°C) at which it will be maintained. This is an essential condition for keeping the LNG in its liquid phase, which allows it to occupy 600 times less space than in its gaseous phase.
Two layers of insulation and a second membrane further envelop the tank and are fitted with high-technology sensors to ensure optimum LNG storage conditions and to meet all safety requirements.
An innovative and optimised architecture.
The CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE will also feature cutting-edge innovations to optimize its energy efficiency through improved hydrodynamics. The bulb has been seamlessly integrated into the hull profile and the bow is straight. The propeller and the rudder blade have also been optimised, along with the Becker Twisted Fin.
An exceptional livery designed for LNG vessels.
Like other vessels in the series, the CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE will be painted in special livery proudly displaying the words “LNG POWERED” as a reminder of the major global innovation represented by LNG propulsion on ships of this size.
The CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE, a ship of exceptional size!
The first in a series of nine new 23,000-TEU vessels which will join the CMA CGM Group fleet from 2020 and will be flagged under the International French Registry (RIF).
General information
Technical information
Delivery date: first half of 2020
LOA: 400 m
Service: French Asia Line
Overal beam: 61 m
Owner/Operator: CMA CGM
Type of vessel: cellular
Builder: CSSC HUDONG & CSSC JIANGNAN
Draft: 16m
Year built: 2020
Reefer plugs: 2,200
Flag: French
Engine: CMD-WinGD 12X92 DF
Nominal capacity: 23, 112 TEU
Maximum power rating: 63,840 kW
Major innovations
A world first, state-of-the-art bridge design centered around four major innovations.
– A tactical display providing an improved view of the charts and enabling more dynamic navigation briefings;
– A “path prediction” system optimized to accurately predict the location of the vessel, taking into account the current turning rate and speed and the helm and speed orders, thus allowing for easier berthing and enabling the Captain to better anticipate the movement of the vessel;
– A “smart eye” projection system for visualising the vessel in its immediate environment. This is a new application on a containership and will make port operations easier;
– Augmented reality screens on the bridge, a global innovation providing additional information such as the vessel turning rate, its distance from the dock and its transversal speed.
A smart ventilation system for Reefer containers placed in the hold.
By measuring the concentration of CO2 and the temperature inside and outside the hold, this smart system will both ensure proper ventilation of the refrigerated containers in the hold and reduce the ship’s energy consumption.
A BeckerTM Twisted Fin.
This system improves the performance of the ship’s propellers by optimizing the water flow and significantly reducing the energy output and hence the release of CO2 into the atmosphere. With this new system, new CMA CGM vessels reduce their CO2 emissions by 4%.
A ballast water treatment system.
The CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE will be equipped with an approved ballast water treatment system. Treated both when pumped and during deballasting, the ballast water will be filtered and will pass under UV lamps so that the water released into the sea will be completely free of any living organism that could affect marine biodiversity. The system was specially chosen by CMA CGM because it does not discharge any chemicals into the sea.
The CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE is…
Longer than 4 football fields or 5.5 Airbus A380 aircraft
Bigger than the Empire State Building (381 meters without the antennae) or the Eiffel Tower (324 meters)
A propeller of remarkable dimensions: more than 10 meters in diameter and weighing more than 92 tons
An LNG tank that is large enough to hold the Statue Of Liberty (without the pedestal)
An engine with a maximum power rating of 68,340 kW, equivalent to 10 Airbus A380 jet engines or to more than 1,150 Renault Clio engines
Containers which would stretch for 141 kilometers if placed end to end, i.e. the distance between Paris and Reims or between Beijing and Tianjin
Wan Hai Lines establishes its new office in India. Image: Unsplash
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Aiming to further enhance service quality and gain a stronger foothold in the Indian sub-continent, Wan Hai Lines has established its India new office in Kolkata in July 2023. Contact details for the new office are as follows: WAN HAI LINES (INDIA) PVT. LTD 3rd Floor, Block C, Apeejay House, 15 Park Street, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700016 TEL: 91-33-4450 4500 According to the 2023 Foreign Trade Policy announced by the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India’s export trade volume will reach 2 trillion US dollars in 2030.
Therefore, benefiting from government policy incentives and the shifting trend of the global supply chain, India’s status in global manufacturing and international trade is increasing, which is conducive to maintaining long-term high economic growth. And the proportion of global exports has increased significantly. In addition, the continuous economic stimulus policy will help revitalize the domestic economy, and domestic demand is expected to increase significantly. Therefore, Wan Hai is optimistic about India’s future import and export situation. And also through the establishment of a new office to improve the overall operating efficiency.
Wan Hai India Kolkata office held a grand opening reception in the evening of 27th July. During the banquet, there were many important customers & guests. The Kolkata Port Authority, Kolkata terminal operators, feeder operators and important local customers were invited to send representatives to attend the meeting to express their blessings to Wan Hai’s opening of the Kolkata market. At present, Wan Hai has six owned offices in India, namely Mumbai, Chennai, Mundra, and Vizag, Delhi and the sixth office Kolkata office. In addition to directly providing river port services, it will also simultaneously strengthen service links between India and neighboring countries, such as Nepal and Bhutan. It is expected to pursue customer first through continuous expansion in the future and sustainable business philosophy.
World's Largest Container Ship, MSC MICHEL CAPPELLINI. Image: MSC
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More than 800 guests gathered in a custom-made tent at the MSC Gate Terminal in Bremerhaven to witness the naming ceremony of the latest edition to Mediterranean Shipping Company’s fleet, MSC MICHEL CAPPELLINI, with the ship as the backdrop. Prior to the naming ceremony, MSC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Free and Hanseatic Cities of Bremen and Hamburg and their ports, agreeing on the use of shore power for MSC’s vessels in both ports.
MSC MICHEL CAPPELLINI is one of the world’s largest and most fuel-efficient container ships by design. At 400 metres in length and with a 61.5 metre beam, it has a capacity of up to 24,346 TEUs. Despite her magnificent size, her design and technical specifications enable the shipment of more cargo at the lowest carbon footprint per container carried.
The vessel employs a small bulbous bow, large diameter propellers and energy-saving ducts, which will help to further reduce fuel consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
MSC MICHEL CAPPELLINI and her sister ships are also built with an air lubrication system to reduce drag on the hull, as well as shaft generators to yield additional power.
In his welcome speech, MSC CEO Soren Toft highlighted the importance of Bremerhaven to MSC as a European cargo hub: “The ports in Bremen are such an important cargo hub for us in Germany and in Northwest Europe. It is truly a strategic location for MSC, and home to over 370 of our colleagues. However, our connection with Germany goes deeper than trade. This is the third naming ceremony of an MSC vessel since 2015, and the second in Bremerhaven. It is therefore by no surprise that we continue to grow with our customers in Germany.”
Soren continued: “Efficiency and innovation are two drivers that led to the development of the MSC MICHEL CAPPELLINI. Through innovation we seek to shift the boundaries of what is possible and surpass our own industry-breaking milestones, a process of continuous evolution. Both, as a family company and as the leader of our industry, we are very mindful of MSC’s key role in decarbonizing the logistics value chain, and the benchmark we set for others in our industry.”
MSC Germany Managing Director Nils Kahn also highlighted the importance of the ports of Bremen as an MSC location: “We handle more than 1 Mio TEU per year here and run dedicated trains to and from many domestic locations. We are connecting the world from exactly this location with a weekly service to the Eastern Mediterranean, two weekly services to the Far East, three weekly services to South America and Mexico and an impressive five weekly services to North America.”
The ship’s blessing was conducted by Provost Dr. Bernhard Stecker, who has led the Catholic Community Association Bremen since 2019 and is the head of the Catholic Office in Bremen, the liaison office of the Catholic Church to the Bremen Senate and the Bremen Parliament in the state. After the blessing, Godmother Cindy-Jo Cappellini performed the christening of the ship by cutting the ribbon and smashing a bottle of champagne against the hull.
Yellow confetti streamed down, the ship’s horns sounded and MSC MICHEL CAPPELLINI can now travel the world’s oceans.
Memorandum of Understanding on Shore Power Infrastructure
Shortly before the naming ceremony started, Kai Stuehrenberg, State Secretary for Economic Affairs of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Andreas Dressel, Senator for Finance of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and MSC CEO Soren Toft met for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreeing on the use of shore power for MSC container vessels in both ports.
Soren Toft said: “I am particularly proud that we signed a Memorandum of Understanding between MSC, the Free and Hanseatic Cities of Bremen and Hamburg, and their port administrations, to partner and collaborate on the implementation of shore power taking us one step closer to ensuring a decarbonized supply chain for global trade.”
MSC Germany Managing Director Nils Kahn also called on German authorities in Berlin to ensure closer collaboration between German ports on the topic of infrastructure development, citing the MoU signed between MSC and the port authorities as an example of what private-public partnership means for MSC.
Additional speeches were given by Kai Stuehrenberg, State Secretary for Economic Affairs of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Andreas Dressel, Senator for Finance of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
The Naming Ceremony
The ceremony was a celebration, highlighting MSC’s commitment to sustainability, sports and the arts. It was moderated by German TV presenter, Jule Gölsdorf. She introduced Boris Herrmann, Germany’s leading yachtsman, world record holder and skipper of sailing team Team Malizia. Boris Herrmann shared his experience from the recent Ocean Race. MSC is a sponsor of Team Malizia and one of the six Official Founding Partners. In front of the 800-guest crowd Boris expressed his gratitude for MSC’s sponsorship and dedication to net zero commitments.
Guests included representatives of local authorities and businesses, customers and journalists. They enjoyed a spectacular performance by Andrea Casta, the famous Italian crossover electric violinist, and Sarah Voss, Germany’s artistic gymnast, all-around national champion and bronze medal winner in the team competition at the 2022 European Championships. The live music and the acrobatic gymnastic performance expressed the very concept of balance between progress and sustainability, humans and nature, present and past.
MSC CEO Soren Toft concluded: “Global trade is crucial for maintaining peace, economic development and growth, and we are serving as a neutral force in the face of the political and diplomatic adversity we see today. Our new 24,000 TEUs-class ships, some of the world’s largest currently on the water, are essential for facilitating and enabling effective global trade. Ultimately connecting cultures, people and continents.“
ONE announces FLX, a new service for South American reefer shipments. Image: ONE
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Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd. announces FLX, a new service connecting the West Coast of South America to the East Coast of North America. The service is set to launch in September 2023. With an emphasis on innovative and efficient transportation solutions, FLX caters to customers looking for reliable South American reefer container shipments.
Flavorful South American Delights Reach New Shores
Many Latin American fruits, vegetables and seafood, such as mangoes, asparagus, shrimp, have been gaining popularity worldwide. As a result, Latin American reefer container transportation has seen a remarkable growth, nearly doubling over the past few years.
Strengthening Our Commitment to South America and Reefer Services
With our reefer services, we have established ourselves as a significant player on the Latin America-Asia route, for which we have earned praise from our customers over the years. To further improve the quality of our transportation services, we are redoubling our efforts by investing in state-of-the-art equipment, including Control Atmosphere (CA) containers and telematics devices.
Unveiling FLX: Expanding New Horizons for Shipments
FLX provides exclusive service, connecting the South America West Coast to the North America East Coast (Florida) with our own dedicated fleet of vessels. The service aims to offer fresh options to our valued customers, including those previously engaged in Asia-bound shipments, while expanding shipping possibilities and streamlining supply chain processes. FLX will launch in September 2023 in preparation for the harvest and shipping season.
Service Details
The FLX service will deploy four vessels in order to ensure schedule stability. This service will connect Callao and Paita (Peru), and Guayaquil (Ecuador) to South Florida with one of the fastest transit times on the market. With excellent options for the transportation of refrigerated cargo, the direct routes include Callao-South Florida in 11 days, Paita-South Florida in 9 days, and Guayaquil-South Florida in 8 days.
Furthermore, FLX provides a direct connection from South Florida to Honduras, in addition to destinations in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. With hub ports like Cartagena (Colombia) and Callao (Peru), ONE services can be seamlessly connected with other services to/from the United States, East Coast South America, Europe, Caribbean and Asia.
Chilean exporters can also conveniently connect their cargoes via Callao, adding to the route’s accessibility. In summary, the FLX route offers multiple connection options:
Callao – Paita – Guayaquil – Cartagena – South Florida – Puerto Cortés – Cartagena – Callao.
Yu Kurimoto, Managing Director of ONE said, “We aim to share South America’s distinctive flavors with people across the globe. With our FLX and LUX services, we are excited to open new doors for businesses and individuals, enabling them to enjoy the authentic tastes of this vibrant region.”
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