In a monumental achievement for India’s maritime industry, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has secured a significant order from the France-based global shipping and logistics giant, CMA CGM Group. This landmark deal involves the construction of six state-of-the-art, LNG-powered container ships, marking CMA CGM as the first major international carrier to commission such advanced vessels from an Indian shipyard. The total value of this prestigious order is reportedly over ₹2,000 crore.
These cutting-edge vessels, each boasting a capacity of 1,700 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), are designed to operate on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and are future-ready for other low-carbon fuels. This commitment to sustainable energy sources will drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aligning perfectly with CMA CGM’s ambitious goal of achieving Net Zero Carbon emissions by 2050. The project at Cochin Shipyard will also benefit from the technical expertise of leading Korean shipbuilder, HD KSOE. Delivery of these vessels is slated between 2029 and 2031, supporting CMA CGM’s ongoing fleet modernization and energy transition initiatives. As the world’s third-largest shipping company, CMA CGM commands a vast fleet of over 650 vessels, connecting more than 420 ports across five continents.
Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, hailed the orders as a pivotal moment, stating, “India is a truly strategic country for CMA CGM, a place where we are consistently investing, nurturing talent, and fostering innovation. Beyond this impressive shipbuilding venture, we are actively strengthening our collaborations in logistics, maritime training, and eco-friendly transport to bolster India’s growth and contribute significantly to the global decarbonisation of trade.”
Madhu S. Nair, Chairman and Managing Director of Cochin Shipyard, also underscored the immense importance of this project for CSL, highlighting the collaboration with HD KSOE, a dominant force in the global shipbuilding sector, as a key strategic partnership.
Boosting Indian Maritime Employment
CMA CGM is not just building ships in India; it’s deeply investing across the entire Indian maritime value chain. This includes supporting strategic terminals, expanding maritime services, and enhancing shipbuilding capabilities, alongside a commitment to reflagging more vessels under the Indian registry. Simultaneously, the company is making concerted efforts to boost local maritime employment by significantly expanding its crewing and manning operations within India. CMA CGM plans to reflag four vessels under the Indian flag in 2025 and aims to hire 1,000 Indian seafarers by the end of this year, with an additional 500 seafarers targeted for recruitment in 2026.
With an established presence spanning 34 years in the country and a dedicated workforce of approximately 17,000 employees, CMA CGM continues to play a vital role in seamlessly connecting India to global markets through its extensive network of 19 weekly maritime services.