The French container liner shipping company CMA CGM, No. 3 in the world market, wants to further expand its fleet and is relying on a shipyard from India for the first time.
In the shortsea and MPP segment, Indian shipyards have recently been more successful, including with orders from various German shipping companies. Now there is also a new order for container ships from one of the major liner carriers.
The Marseille-based shipping company CMA CGM announced that it has signed a letter of intent for six new 1,700 TEU dual-fuel LNG container ships to be built in India. This makes it “the first major international container shipping company to sign a contract for six new LNG-powered vessels to be built in India by Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL),” the statement said.
The project is packaged in a series of measures aimed at cooperation with the Indian maritime industry. For example, four ships have already been re-registered under the Indian flag, 1,000 Indian seafarers will be employed by the end of the year and there are plans to employ a further 500 seafarers in 2026.
The newbuildings will also sail under the Indian flag. However, CMA CGM is not tackling the project without support from Asia. It is reportedly being carried out “in technical cooperation with the Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries”.
Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, called the potential order a “milestone” that reflects the confidence placed in India’s industrial and technological capabilities. “It supports Prime Minister Modi’s goal of making India a global shipbuilding nation. India is a strategically important country for CMA CGM where we invest, train and innovate. Beyond shipbuilding, we are strengthening our partnerships in logistics, maritime education and sustainable transport to support India’s growth and contribute to the decarbonization of global trade,” Saadé added. If an order is placed, delivery is planned between 2029 and 2031.
Madhu S Nair, Chief Executive of Cochin Shipyard, said: “This project is also significant for CSL as we are working with the largest shipbuilding group HD KSOE as a key partner, which further reinforces our commitment to provide best-in-class solutions through partnerships to serve customers around the world.”
Beyond its core shipping businesses – there are 19 services in the portfolio – CMA CGM is also investing in India’s port infrastructure, holding strategic stakes in terminals at Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal (NSFT) near Mumbai and Mundra Port.
