On January 12, 2022, CMA CGM Group (hereinafter referred to as CMA CGM) and Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd. (Hereinafter referred to as Shanghai Port Group) held the signing ceremony of the framework agreement for the LNG filling service project for ships in Shanghai Port. 

Rudolf Sade, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM, and Gu Jinshan, Chairman of Shanghai Port Group, jointly attended the signing ceremony.

CMA CGM and Shanghai Port Group have the advantages of international ocean shipping and international seaport terminals respectively. The signing of this contract is an important milestone in the cooperation between the two sides and will further deepen and expand the partnership between the two sides. 

According to the agreement, Shanghai Port Group will use a newly built 20,000 cubic meters LNG filling ship to supply LNG fuel to CMA CGM’s 15,000 TEU dual-fuel ship in Yangshan Port Area.

It is understood that Dafei’s 15000TEU dual-fuel ships, deployed on the Pearl River Express Line (PRX) from China to Los Angeles, USA, will be put into operation by the end of 2022.

CMA CGM said that in the first quarter of 2022, Shanghai Port Group will provide a 10-year “ship-to-ship” LNG synchronous filling service for all ships on CMA CGM’s route in Yangshan Port Area.This service is the first synchronous LNG fuel filling service in Shanghai Port and the first LNG synchronous filling operation in Chinese ports. 

In response to this cooperation, Gu Jinshan, Chairman of Shanghai Port Group, said: Shanghai Port’s bonded LNG filling business for international navigation ships has been highly valued by the Shanghai Municipal Committee and the Municipal Government, and has also received strong support from relevant competent departments and units in Shanghai.Bonded LNG filling for international navigation ships is of great significance to creating an international first-class business environment for Shanghai port city, improving the service function of Shanghai port and enhancing the comprehensive competitiveness of Shanghai International Shipping Center. This will further strengthen the long-term partnership between SIPG and CMA CGM.

Rudolf Sade, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM, said: This agreement marks an important milestone in CMA CGM’s energy transformation, as we will be the first liner company to fuel LNG in China. Thank you for the active cooperation between the two teams, and I am glad that the first filling operation in China will be successful soon, which will be conducive to the further development of CMA CGM in Shanghai. 

It is reported that CMA CGM has adopted Better Ways? Committed to the sustainable development of the shipping logistics industry. At the same time, it has also participated in the United Nations Zero Emission Competition Initiative, striving to become an absolute zero carbon emission enterprise by 2050, surpassing the “2050 carbon neutral” goal. 

All along, CMA CGM has been actively seeking the best solution and taking concrete measures. Since 2017, CMA CGM has chosen to invest in LNG powered dual-fuel ships.

According to reports, LNG powered ships are powered by bio-liquefied natural gas, which can reduce air pollution emissions by about 99% and carbon dioxide emissions by 67% compared with the same fuel container ships. 

CMA CGM further said that in the future, these ships will use synthetic methane (including electrical methane) as fuel.It is reported that CMA CGM has a fleet of engines using “electric methane” conditions, 23 of which have been put into operation, and by the end of 2024, CMA CGM expects to have a total of 44 ships of this type. 

It is understood that Shanghai Port Group, as the world’s leading terminal operator, has always integrated the concept of green and sustainable development into all aspects of port development, and is committed to becoming a leader in promoting the development of port green ecological construction.

By means of technical support for the development of shore power and oil to electricity, Shanghai Port Group has created an environment-friendly port and achieved a decrease in carbon emission intensity year by year.  

The provision of LNG clean fuel filling services for CMA CGM will be one of the contributions made by Shanghai Port Group to reduce the carbon footprint of the shipping and logistics supply chain.