The French liner shipping company CMA CGM wants to trim a considerable number of existing ships for greater efficiency. The Dutch Damen Group will be its shipyard partner.
Around 100 ships from the CMA CGM fleet are to undergo significant modifications. According to a statement, the aim is to reduce fuel consumption by more than 10%. The Marseille-based Saadé family shipping company has chosen the Dutch Damen Shipyards group as its value partner.
The modernisations are to be carried out at Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque (DSDu) and Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam (DSAm). The contract was awarded because these locations have some of the largest dry docks in Europe and many years of experience with complex conversions and retrofits, according to Damen.
CMA CGM relies on bulbous bow modifications
Above all, the bulbous bows on the ships are to be replaced. Previously, the shipping company had such work carried out in China and occasionally in the Middle East. The investment in retrofits would pay for itself in less than three years, according to the statement.
Nine ships are scheduled for retrofits this year, five at DSDu and four at DSAm. Three of these are planned for the installation of a new bulbous bow, starting with the LNG-powered container feeder ship “Arctic”.
While the retrofitting of a bulbous bow alone is expected to result in fuel savings of 5% to 10%, CMA CGM is also looking into other retrofits. Damen says it is also offering work packages that include a propeller upgrade, modifications to the propeller nozzle and a silicone coating. Each of these upgrades could lead to additional savings of 2% to 5%. Three vessels will also be equipped with shore power connections.
