Delivering the world’s largest LNG containership

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is the leading clean fuel solution for ships today, enabling vessels to almost completely eliminate sulfur dioxide and fine particulate emissions. When fueling a 2-stroke WinGD XDF 92 engine, LNG can provide up to an 85% reduction in nitrogen dioxide and significantly limit GHG emissions.

For containerships, which travel long distances on fixed routes and are essential to commercial trading, using LNG as fuel is a key step to becoming more environmentally sustainable. With the delivery of the LNG-powered CMA CGM Jacques Saadé, a 23,000 TEU containership, CMA CGM has proven that size can be an advantage for integrating LNG onboard deep-sea vessels.

What makes the CMA CGM Jacques Saadé stand out

The ship houses an LNG tank of 18,600 m³, a capacity that enables unbroken round trips between Europe and Asia. To maintain the natural gas at a liquid state – i.e., at a minimum temperature of -160°C – the ship uses a GTT membrane Mark III Flex containment system. Composed of two integrity barriers and reinforced insulation material, the membrane tank can safely contain the cryogenic fuel.

The vessel’s Fuel Gas Handling System regulates LNG vaporization and the pressurization of vaporized gas. This system provides gas to power the ship’s main engine (WinGD XDF) and the six dual-fuel W34DF Wartsila auxiliary engines, automatically adjusting vaporization rate based on the vessel’s speed and power demand.

Vessel design is also streamlined for optimum hydrodynamic performance under real operating conditions. The bulb at the front of the ship is completely integrated into the ship’s profile, with a straight, tapered bow. The ship’s propeller and rudder are equipped with the innovative Becker™ Twisted Fin system, which optimizes water flow and reduces energy consumption. Together, these adjustments further reduce the CMA CGM Jacques Saadé’s overall CO₂ emissions by 4%.

Additionally, the ship’s cockpit is equipped with a variety of smart and digital technologies. These include augmented reality screens, a path prediction system and a “smart eye” projection system that provides a 360º view of the ship, a first for containerships. The CMA CGM Jacques Saadé further benefits from a smart system for ventilating reefer containers, measuring temperature and CO₂ levels inside and outside the hold to ensure proper ventilation.

Thanks to MOL’s recently delivered Gas Agility, the world’s largest LNG bunker ship, Total will be able to provide LNG to the CMA CGM Jacques Saadé. This will be done in the port of Rotterdam, using the Gas Agility’s optimized LNG bunker transfer system.

A cutting-edge partnership with CMA CGM

Developing the CMA CGM Jacques Saadé required expertise and input from industry leaders across Europe. A leader in classification for containerships and LNG-powered vessels, Bureau Veritas was able to offer invaluable regulatory insight for a construction project of this size. We are proud to continue our long tradition of providing classification for CMA CGM, helping guarantee the compliance of the CMA CGM Jacques Saadé and its eight sister ships.

Photo Credit: CMA CGM