Engie, CMA CGM Join Forces on Marine LNG
France-based shipping group CMA CGM and French energy giant Engie have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote LNG as fuel for container vessels, they said October 19.
Under the agreement, signed by CMA CGM CEO Farid Salem and Engie CEO Isabelle Kocher in Marseilles, the two parties agreed to study jointly the technology and economics of LNG, and the engineering specifications for a bunkering vessel adapted to LNG-powered container ships, and how to improve the logistics chain that is needed to fuel them.
Kocher said that gas was a “key element in the energy transition" and that Engie is "actively engaged in the development of the diverse uses of retail LNG, especially for a greener mobility. Ultimately, LNG as marine fuel could lead to a massive reduction in polluting emissions.”
Salem said gas was ”undoubtedly the fuel of the future of the maritime shipping industry that will progressively substitute heavy fuel oil over the next few decades. CMA CGM wishes to be a pioneer in this area.”
Conventionally-fuelled large container ship
(Credit: CMA CGM)
CMA CGM has been working on building more environment-friendly large capacity container ships since 2011, including a “dual-fuel large capacity container ship that runs on LNG or fuel oil only. Classification agency Bureau Veritas has approved the design.
Another project is to design a vessel propelled by a combined gas and steam turbine system in partnership with other engineering or consultancy firms DNV GL, GTT, ABB, Caterpillar, and OMT.
Six weeks ago Engie formed an alliance with Japan's Mitsubishi and shipowner NYK Lines that aims to lead innovation through the ship-to-ship supply of LNG for the maritime sector. The three firms plus Belgium's Fluxys co-own a LNG bunkering vessel now being built that will operate from Zeebrugge and supply Norwegian shipowner UECC's two giant car carriers. Engie is also developing a bunkering facility at nearby Antwerp.
William Powell