The world’s first natural gas-powered containership has also just set a new world record for the highest number of full containers loaded on a single vessel.
The LNG-powered CMA CGM Jacques Saad was recently delivered by Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation. With capacity of 23,000 TEU, the 400-meter-long ship is the largest containership to be powered by cleaner burning Liquified Natural Gas (LNG).
CMA CGM says the vessel departed Singapore this week carrying a whopping 20,723 “full” containers, which, if confirmed, would set a new world record for the greatest number of containers ever carried by a ship.
The vessel operates on CMA CGM’s flagship French Asia Line (FAL 1), connecting Asia with Europe.
Due to its size and the fact that it is powered by LNG, setting new world records comes with the territory. The Jacques Saad is powered by the largest and most powerful LNG-fueled engine, the X92DF developed by WinGD, which holds the title of the powerful two-stroke dual fuel engine delivering a whopping 63,840 kW of power.
CMA CGM Jaques Saad arrives at the CMA CGM-PSA Lion Terminal in Singapore, October 12, 2020. Photo courtesy CMA CGM
Cleaner burning liquefied natural gas has been viewed as a transitioning fuel in the shipping industry’s efforts to decarbonize. It is also compliant with the IMO’s .5% sulphur limit, reducing emissions of sulfur oxides and fine particles by 99%, and nitrogen oxides emissions by up to 85% compared to conventional fuels.
