CMA CGM to convert container ships to methanol power in China
Marseille-based container vessel giant CMA CGM is the latest shipowner to embark on the methanol conversion route for its vessels. The company is converting one or two of its 9,300-TEU vessels built nearly ten years ago. The actual ships have not yet been named. The first vessel is to undergo conversion in mid-2025, with the work taking three months to complete.
If this project is successful, CMA CGM could convert the entire ten-vessel fleet to methanol after signing a contract with China’s CSSC Qingdao Behai Shipbuilding Heavy Industries in January on this project.
The French operator is following in the footsteps of another leading container ship operator Maersk, who signed a similar conversion contract in October last year with China’s Zhoushan Xinya Shipbuilding Co and MAN PrimeServ, covering eleven vessels – the 15,226-TEU-capacity H-class built between 2017 and 2019. The first vessel to be converted is Maersk Halifax, in mid-2024.
The H-class vessels are currently fitted with MAN-B&W 8G95ME-C9.5 main engines. They will be retrofitted with dual-fuel oil/methanol MAN-B&W 8G95ME-LGIM-10.5 type main engines. The conversion of Maersk Halifax will also include the fitting of new fuel tanks, a fuel preparation room and a fuel supply system.
Meanwhile, Hapag Lloyd is working with Canada’s Seaspan Corp and MAN PrimeServ on another container ship conversion project. MAN will deliver 15 main engine retrofit solutions for the conversion of Seaspan vessels operating under long-term charter to Hapag Lloyd. The contract includes an option on a further 45 engine retrofit solutions.
The vessels are currently powered by single MAN-B&W S90-type fuel oil-powered engines and will become dual-fuel methanol ME-LGIM engines, capable of operating on green methanol.
