CMA CGM initiates alternative fuels coalition

Photo: CMA CGM

During the French Maritime Economy Conference, Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, recommended that French President Emmanuel Macron initiate an international coalition for the energy transition of the transportation sector.

The head of state  committed to actively supporting the proposition, aimed at the development of a more competitive and less carbon-intensive energy source.

The 'Eco-Energetic Transition of the Maritime Sector' project, led by the French Maritime Cluster, ADEME (French Environment & Energy Management Agency), Bureau Veritas and CMA CGM, is just the first step. The goal is to carry out an inventory of available technologies and new developments in ship propulsion. The data collected will help guide and structure future work.

In a further announcement, CMA CGM's skipper also unveiled the choice of Marseille-Fos as a strategic hub in the Mediterranean for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for its future 15k TEU vessels. The vessels are set for delivery starting in 2021 and will operate between Asia and the Mediterranean.

Rodolphe Saadé declared, "With the choice of liquefied natural gas, the CMA CGM Group is a pioneer in the energy transition of the maritime industry. To meet the challenges ahead, we must go even further and work together: maritime, air and land carriers, logisticians, energy companies and motorists, in Europe and around the world. With the support of the French President, France will launch a major global coalition for the energy of tomorrow."

He also offered a take on his vision of the future of the maritime industry. One of the two main focus points would be logistics, underscored by CMA CGM’s recent acquisition of CEVA Logistics and the transfer of the company’s HQ to Marseille. The other being digitalization, with the Group actively pursuing projects related to blockchain technology, Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI).

The event also saw the first presentation of an educational video on LNG, meant to promote a better understanding of the issues related to its development.