DCN October Edition 2019

SUSTAINABILITY
Shipping line’s bid
to protect the planet
Head of the French shipping giant CMA CGM, Rodolphe Saadé, recently announced
a number of major environmental commitments, writes Paula Wallace
“FORWARD LOOKING” AND
Rich in its unique and largely unexplored
CMA CGM believes that LNG offers
“socially responsible” are phrases used to
biodiversity, the Arctic plays an essential
the “best proven solution available” to
describe the position being taken by global
role in regulating ocean currents and global
significantly reduce the environmental
shipping line CMA CGM in several recent
climate patterns. The use of the Northern
footprint of maritime transport.
decisions. Namely, the choice to avoid the
Sea Route will represent a significant
Last month, the company announced
Northern Sea Route and the use of liquefied
danger to the unique natural ecosystems
the launch of the first 23,000-TEU, LNG-
natural gas to power its ships.
of this part of the world, mainly due to the
powered containership, the Jacques Saadé.
In 2018, CMA CGM transported nearly
numerous threats posed by accidents, oil
This major milestone in the construction of
21 million TEU, including a reefer fleet of
pollution or collisions with marine wildlife.
the world’s first LNG-powered ultra-large
385,000 TEU.
To avoid posing a greater threat to this
containership was reached at the Shanghai
The company was recently invited by
fragile environment, Rodolphe Saadé has
Jiangnan-Changxing Shipyard.
the French President Emmanuel Macron to
decided that none of the CMA CGM Group’s
The new vessel will join the group’s fleet
attend a meeting ahead of the G7 meeting
500 vessels will use the Northern Sea Route
in 2020 on the French Asia Line (Asia-
in Biarritz from August 24-26, where Mr
along Siberia. With this decision, CMA CGM
Northern Europe) and will be registered in
Saadé made the announcements.
makes the “resolute choice to protect the
the French International Register.
During the meeting, Mr Saadé delivered
environment and the planet’s biodiversity
The vessel features a state-of-the-art
to the President, on behalf of the maritime
despite the major competitive advantage this
bridge design, offering a tactical display
industry, the SAILS (Sustainable Actions
route represents for shipping companies”.
with enhanced map views for more dynamic
for Innovative and Low-impact Shipping)
Mr Saadé says, “We make these choices
navigation briefings. It also has a path
Charter. Through this charter, the 10 French
to meet the needs of our employees and our
prediction system optimised to display the
signatory shipping companies commit to
customers, who are increasingly concerned
ship’s predicted position in the next three
implementing specific actions to reduce
about the environment. But above all, we
minutes; a smart eye system projecting a
emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse
make these decisions for the future, to
bird’s-eye view of the ship’s surrounding
gases, protect whales, optimise vessel energy
leave our children a cleaner planet”.
area; and augmented reality screens.
and performance, and strengthen relations
To further improve the environmental
with the scientific community.
POWERING AHEAD
performance of the Jacques Saadé and her
“These are brave, bold choices, which
CMA CGM sees itself as a pioneer in its
sisterships, their hull forms have been
go far beyond purely business decisions,”
adoption of LNG as an alternate marine
hydrodynamically optimised. The bulb has
Mr Saadé says. “This is a firm belief for
fuel for ultra-large vessels that carry
been seamlessly integrated into the hull
us, born out of our family ethos and our
up to 23,000 containers. The group has
profile and the bow is straight.
strong human values, to make responsible,
decided to invest significantly to go beyond
These exceptionally large vessels (400
forward-looking choices. That is how we
the upcoming IMO 2020 low sulphur
metres long and 61 metres wide) will
plan to build fairer, more environmentally-
regulation by using LNG. Some 20 LNG-
be distinguished from the rest of the
friendly trade, and I invite the entire
powered vessels are thus set to enter the
fleet by a special livery displaying an
industry – competitors, partners and
group’s fleet by 2022.
“LNG POWERED” logo, attesting to the
customers – to join us.”
“LNG is a real technological
innovation that LNG propulsion represents
breakthrough which yields significant
on ships of this size.
RESERVOIR OF BIODIVERSITY
benefits compared to heavy fuel oil: up to
Notably, between 2005 and 2015,
Today, the Northern Sea Route, which runs
the length of the Siberian Coast, connects
Asia to Europe. It has been made navigable
due to the effects of global warming.
25% less CO 2
, 99% less sulphur emissions,
99% less fine particles and 85% less
nitrogen oxide emissions,” Xavier Eiglier,
CEO ANL, tells Daily Cargo News.
CMA CGM reduced its CO 2
emissions per
container transported by 50% and has
a target to reduce these emissions by a
further 30% by 2025.
Chase Dekker
60 October 2019
thedcn.com.au