The CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, announced the arrival of CMA CGM LIBERTY as the first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered containership to call a port in Japan at the Honmoku D4 terminal in Yokohama on 24 July 2023. At 15,000-TEU, the containership also ranks amongst the largest vessels to be calling in Japan.

CMA CGM, connecting Japan and Asia to Central and South America with three e-methane ready vessels

CMA CGM LIBERTY is one of three e-methane ready LNG-powered vessels that the Group has lined-up on the weekly Asia Central South America 1 (ACSA1) service. They form the ACSA1 service fleet of 12 vessels, ranging from 12,000 to 15,000 TEUs and deployed on the regular Transpacific service. These dual-fuel gas powered vessels currently run on LNG, avoiding up to 99% of sulphur emission, 92% of nitrogen oxide emission and 91% of particulate matter. Importantly, their engines are already capable of using BioLNG (i.e. liquefied biomethane). The ships are also technically-equipped to eventually run on e-methane (i.e. synthetic-methane), a source of carbon-neutral fuel.

The CMA CGM Group is committed to achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2050 and intends to accelerate the energy transition in shipping and logistics, especially through an enhanced energy mix. The CMA CGM Group already has a fleet of 32 "biomethane and e-methane ready" vessels in service, and will count 77 by 2027 and 24 biomethanol-powered, e-methanol ready vessels by 2027.

CMA CGM, supporting customers’ supply chains and energy transition in Japan in BETTER WAYS

The arrival of CMA CGM LIBERTY today and soon her sister ships, are timely as the Yokohama port establishes its LNG bunkering infrastructure to decarbonise shipping. CMA CGM’s e-methane ready vessels now calling ports in Japan embody the Group’s CLEANER ENERGY LNG solution for Japanese shippers willing reduce the environmental footprint of their shipments. The low-carbon offering qualifies their cargo as shipped on CMA CGM’s dual-fuel LNG-powered vessels.

In October 2022, the CMA CGM Group and Yokohama Kawasaki International Port Corporation signed a Reservation Agreement for Honmoku Futo D5 Terminal in Port of Yokohama. By October 2026, CMA CGM’s current container terminal operations at D4 will be relocated to the new D5, a larger and more sustainable terminal backed by an infrastructure of near-zero emission rubber tyred gantry cranes, cold ironing and LNG bunkering facilities.