[261016.EN.BIZ] CMA CGM and ENGIE Join To Develop LNG As Marine Fuel For Box Ships

FRENCH shipping giant CMA CGM and ENGIE have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to promote LNG as the marine fuel for tomorrow's container vessels.

CMA CGM group CEO Farid Salem and ENGIE chief executive Isabelle Kocher signed the agreement in Marseilles to undertake technical and economic study of LNG as marine fuel.

The study will include development of engineering specifications for a bunkering vessel adapted to LNG powered containerships, so as to improve over time the logistics chain necessary to fuelling this type of vessel, thus promoting their deployment.

Said Mr Salem: "Liquefied natural gas has many environmental advantages. It is undoubtedly the fuel of the future of the maritime shipping industry that will progressively substitute heavy fuel oil over the next few decades."

He said that CMA CGM wishes to be a pioneer in this area, and with the agreement with ENGIE this allows the company to move one step closer."

Said Ms Kocher: "For ENGIE, natural gas is a key element in the energy transition. LNG as marine fuel will lead to a massive reduction in pollutant emissions."

ENGIE manages a large LNG supply portfolio and has a significant presence in regasification terminals in Europe and worldwide. In 2014, it joined Mitsubishi Corporation and NYK in LNG marine fuel development and ordered the first purpose-built LNG bunkering vessel in the market.

Delivery to their first customer is expected in early 2017 at Zeebrugge. To go even further, last September the three groups launched a joint new brand, Gas4Sea, offering a clean, reliable, safe, and cost-effective ship-to-ship supply of LNG for the maritime sector.

Source : HKSG.