CMA CGM takes delivery of its 400th owned vessel

CMA CGM has taken delivery of the CMA CGM Monte Cristo, a 16,000-TEU container ship that marks the 400th owned vessel in the French carrier’s fleet. The delivery, completed at the DSIC Tianjin Shipyard, signals a continuing shift in the Group’s capital strategy toward asset ownership and the adoption of alternative fuels.

The Monte Cristo is the first in a series of six newbuildings and brings the company’s total operated fleet to over 650 vessels. Measuring 366 meters in length with a 51-meter beam, the vessel is designed for high-capacity long-haul routes, featuring 1,000 reefer plugs for temperature-controlled cargo.

The ship will operate under the Maltese flag with a crew of 23, commanded by Captain Predrag Vojvodic. Following its naming ceremony on January 21, the vessel is scheduled to enter commercial service on January 29, departing from Ningbo. It will be deployed on the BEX2 – Phoenician Express service, a key maritime artery linking North Asia to the Levant and the Adriatic Sea.

The Methanol Pivot

Beyond its numerical significance, the Monte Cristo is the 11th methanol-powered vessel to join the CMA CGM fleet. The Group currently has an additional 13 methanol ships on order, part of a broader decarbonization roadmap that aims for Net Zero Carbon by 2050.

The maritime industry is currently divided between Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and methanol as the primary bridge fuels toward a zero-emission future. CMA CGM is hedging on both; by 2031, the company expects to operate approximately 200 dual-fuel vessels. These ships are engineered to run on both conventional fuel and low-carbon alternatives, providing the flexibility to adapt as green methanol production scales globally.

Strategic Outlook

This delivery reflects a broader trend among top-tier global carriers to integrate advanced technologies directly into their owned assets rather than relying solely on chartered tonnage. By securing 24 methanol-capable ships, CMA CGM is positioning itself to meet tightening environmental regulations in Europe and Asia, where carbon pricing and emissions caps are becoming central to port operations.

Source: CMA CGM

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