First call at Tanger Med by the CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE, the world’s largest containership powered by liquefied natural gas

Today, the Tanger Med port complex welcomed the CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE, the world’s largest LNG-powered container ship, which made her first call in Morocco in the presence of Christophe Colloc, Managing Director, CMA CGM Morocco.

The CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE, the world’s first LNG-powered containership with a capacity of 23,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), has arrived at Tanger Med for her first call in Morocco. CMA CGM chose to name the flagship of its fleet after its founder Jacques Saadé, a visionary entrepreneur who left a lasting mark on the entire shipping industry. Her eight 23,000-TEU sister ships bear the names of famous landmarks and monuments in Paris (Champs Elysées, Palais Royal, Louvre, Rivoli, Montmartre, Concorde, Trocadéro and Sorbonne).

In November 2017, Rodolphe Saadé made the forward-looking choice to order nine 23,000-TEU container ships equipped with LNG engines. This was a historic first in the shipping industry for vessels of this size. The CMA CGM Group already operates 10 LNG-powered containerships and by 2022 will have a fleet of 26 containerships of various sizes (see detailed list enclosed).

LNG is currently the industry’s best technology for preserving air quality. It exceeds current regulatory requirements, cutting emissions of sulfur oxides by 99%, fine particles by 91% and nitrogen oxides by 92%. LNG also provides an initial response to the challenge of combating climate change. An LNG vessel emits up to 20% less CO2 compared with a vessel powered by fuel oil. LNG technology is one of the first steps that the CMA CGM Group is taking towards its target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

These innovative vessels are 400 meters long, 61 meters wide and 78 meters tall, and are the result of seven years of R&D work by CMA CGM’s experts. They incorporate cutting-edge technologies such as trajectory prediction, smart projection and augmented-reality screens to assist the captain and crew. The ships are designed for performance, featuring a straight bow with an integrated bulb, rudder and propeller with a new and improved design, along with the Becker Twisted Fin®, which improves performance by optimizing the water flow and considerably reducing energy consumption. With this new system, the CMA CGM Group’s new vessels achieve a 4% reduction in CO2 emissions. They also use a smart ventilation system for refrigerated containers in the hold.

Tanger Med is a global logistics gateway located on the Strait of Gibraltar and connected to more than 180 ports worldwide with handling capacities of 9 million containers, 7 million passengers, 700,000 trucks and exports of 1 million new vehicles annually. It plays a key role in Morocco’s economic development. The CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE will see more than 3,600 containers loaded and unloaded during her call, supporting both imports and exports.

The CMA CGM Group is a long-standing partner of Morocco, where it has operated since 1983. It employs more than 1,000 people in Morocco, where it makes more than 1,300 calls per year with 24 lines that serve the whole world. CMA CGM, via its Terminal Link subsidiary, owns a 40% stake in Tanger Med’s Eurogate terminal.