The CMA CGM Grand Palais is being deployed on the FAL3 (French Asia Line 3), a vital high-capacity service connecting the export hubs of Ningbo, Shanghai, and Yantian to the Northern European gateways of Le Havre, Rotterdam, and Hamburg. By injecting an LNG-powered 23,000-TEU giant into this rotation, CMA CGM is neutralizing the high fuel costs of current Cape of Good Hope diversions through superior slot efficiency and lower-emission propulsion. This vessel serves as a critical, carbon-efficient bridge between East Asian exports and the European “Northern Range” consumer markets.
France | March 18 – CMA CGM has officially welcomed the CMA CGM Grand Palais, the latest addition to its flagship fleet of 23,000-TEU Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) powered ultra-large container vessels.
The naming ceremony took place at the Jiangnan Shipyard, featuring the vessel’s Master, Captain Liang Zhihua, and her godmother, Ms. Xu Minhui, who serves as the Vice Director of the Education Training Center at Shanghai Maritime University (SMU). The selection of Ms. Xu highlights the strategic partnership between the French carrier and China’s premier maritime academic institution, which provides the high-level training required for crews operating complex dual-fuel propulsion systems.
Technical Specifications & Fuel Profile
As a “new-generation” vessel, the Grand Palais is built around a massive 18,600-cbm GTT Mark III membrane containment tank. This allows the vessel to complete a full Asia-Europe round trip on a single LNG bunkering, typically performed at major hubs like Rotterdam or Shanghai (Yangshan).
- Propulsion: Dual-fuel WinGD 12X92DF engines.
- Environmental Impact: Compared to conventional VLSFO-powered ships, the Grand Palais delivers a 99% reduction in sulfur oxides (SOx), a 91% reduction in particulate matter, and up to a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions.
- Bio-LNG Ready: The vessel’s fuel system is fully compatible with bio-methane and e-methane, providing a pathway to net-zero operations as those fuels scale in the bunker market.
Strategic Infrastructure Alignment
The deployment of the Grand Palais on the FAL3 route aligns with CMA CGM’s massive investment in LNG bunkering infrastructure. the carrier ensures that its largest “Mega-Max” ships maintain high operational windows without the need for traditional heavy fuel oil.
About CMA CGM
The CMA CGM Group is a global leader in sea, land, air, and logistics solutions, guided by its corporate purpose: “We imagine better ways to serve a world in motion.”
Present in 177 countries, the Group employs 160,000 people, including nearly 6,000 in Marseille, where its headquarters are located. As the world’s third-largest container shipping company, CMA CGM serves more than 420 ports across five continents with a fleet of over 650 vessels, carrying more than 23 million TEUs in 2024.
Through subsidiaries such as CEVA Logistics, CMA CGM AIR CARGO, and CMA Media, the Group has built an integrated global platform spanning logistics, air freight, and media, while maintaining a strong commitment to energy transition, humanitarian aid, and education worldwide.
Source: CMA CGM