As part of this new logistics joint venture, a new 20,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel will be positioned in Rotterdam by the end of 2028 and jointly operated, according to a joint statement.
The CMA CGM-TotalEnergies JV will offer a complete logistics service, from reload access at the Gate terminal facilities to LNG bunker delivery to a wide range of vessels operating in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region, including those of CMA CGM as well as other shipping operators.
The joint venture will capitalize on TotalEnergies’ established logistics infrastructure in the ARA region, where the 18,600-cbm LNG bunkering vessel Gas Agility has been in operation since 2020.
By integrating the JV’s future LNG bunkering vessel with Gas Agility, the partnership aims to create synergies that enhance delivery flexibility and boost operational efficiency across the region, the statement said.
The partners did not provide further details regarding the new vessel.
LNG supply
To support CMA CGM’s goal of reaching net zero carbon by 2050 and ensure the supply of its dual-fuel LNG-powered fleet, which will grow to 123 vessels by 2029, TotalEnergies will supply CMA CGM with up to 360,000 tons of LNG annually, from 2028 onwards and until 2040.
Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM said this is the first time that a shipping company and an energy provider will jointly operate an LNG bunkering vessel, based in the port of Rotterdam.
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, said “LNG is today the most mature and immediately available solution to reduce the environmental footprint of maritime transport.”
“This strategic partnership not only strengthens our position as a major player in LNG bunkering but also illustrates the shared commitment of two leading French companies to actively support the energy transition,” he said.
TotalEnergies and CMA CGM have been long-standing partners in the LNG bunkering industry.
In 2017, the duo signed a 10-year agreement under which TotalEnergies supplies 300,000 tons of LNG annually to CMA CGM in Rotterdam.
Two years after that, the partners signed a 10-year agreement under which TotalEnergies supplies 250,000 tons of LNG annually to CMA CGM in Marseille Fos.
In 2020, the first LNG bunkering of a large CMA CGM container vessel took place in Rotterdam, with 17,300 cbm of LNG delivered by TotalEnergies.
Additionally, the first LNG bunkering of a CMA CGM container ship in France occurred in Dunkirk in 2021, with nearly 16,400 cubic meters of LNG supplied.
In 2022, the first ship-to-containership LNG bunkering operation took place at the Port of Marseille Fos, with around 6,000 cbm of LNG delivered in Marseille Fos.
