Cochin Shipyard bags order for six LNG container ships from European major

CMA CGM Group, a France-based global transportation and logistics company, has signed a letter of intent for six LNG-powered container ships to be built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). With the order, CMA CGM has become the first major foreign carrier to commission LNG vessels from an Indian shipyard. All six vessels will be registered under the Indian flag, the CSL said. The value of the order is reportedly above ₹2,000 crore.

“The vessels, each with a capacity of 1,700 TEUs (Twenty foot Equivalent Units), can run on LNG and are ready for low-carbon fuels, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with the group’s ambition to be Net Zero Carbon by 2050. The project at Cochin Shipyard will also be run with the technical cooperation of Korean shipbuilder HD KSOE. The vessels will be delivered from 2029 to 2031, in line with the group’s fleet renewal and energy transition strategy,” the CSL said in a release. CMA CGM, world’s third largest shipping company, serves more than 420 ports across five continents with a fleet of over 650 vessels.

Terming the orders a milestone, Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, said, “India is a strategic country for CMA CGM, where we invest, train, and innovate. Beyond shipbuilding, we are strengthening our partnerships in logistics, maritime training, and sustainable transport to support India’s growth and contribute to the decarbonisation of global trade.”

Madhu S. Nair, CMD, Cochin Shipyard, said the project is of great significance to CSL as the shipyard is collaborating with HD KSOE, the largest shipbuilding group, as the major partner.

Recruiting seafarers

The CMA CGM is actively investing across the Indian maritime value chain, spanning strategic terminals, maritime services, and shipbuilding, while also reflagging vessels under the Indian registry. At the same time, it is enhancing local maritime employment through expanded crewing and manning operations in India. CMA CGM will reflag four vessels under the Indian registry in 2025 and aims to recruit 1,000 Indian seafarers by the end of the year. In 2026, CMA CGM plans to hire an additional 500 Indian seafarers.

With a 34-year presence in the country and a workforce of approximately 17,000 employees, CMA CGM plays an essential role in connecting India to global markets through 19 weekly maritime services.