Europe's strategic push to strengthen maritime trade received a boost on Thursday as French shipping group CMA CGM inaugurated the CMA CGM Notre Dame, the world's largest LNG-powered container ship and the first of a new fleet that will operate on the company's flagship Asia-Europe trade route.
Stretching almost 400 metres—roughly the length of four football pitches—the CMA CGM Notre Dame dominates the quayside in Le Havre. Towering stacks of containers rise above the deck, carrying everything from trainers to cars as the vessel prepares to enter service on one of the world's busiest trade routes.
The vessel measures, which is more than 62 metres wide and can carry up to 24,000 containers, is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and is the world's largest container ship using the fuel.
After its inaugural stop in Le Havre, the vessel is due to leave for Asia on Monday. It will call at Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, Tanger Med, Port Klang, Singapore, Yantian, Shanghai and Ningbo before returning to Europe, completing the round trip in just over 100 days.
On the voyage to Asia, it carries chemicals, food products, wine and spirits, pharmaceuticals, industrial machinery and luxury goods. On the return journey to Europe, it transports electronics, clothing, household appliances and a wide range of consumer goods. Depending on the cargo mix, the value of the goods on board can reach €2.5 billion to €3 billion.
