CMA CGM Mermaid, the first of a series of 10 vessels developed by the container line with Chantiers de l'Atlantique and Hyundai Heavy Industries boasts emissions reductions of up to 20%, compared to VLSFO ships, CMA CGM claimed.

The most striking design aspect of the ship is its front superstructure, the first such layout in the CMA CGM fleet. The 204.29 m length and 29.6 m width are optimized for aerodynamic and hydrodynamic performance.

The vessels are destined for routes in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe and will add to CMA CGM’s over 30 vessels running alternative fuels. By 2028, the group said it will have almost 120 ships powered by low-carbon energies thanks to its over $15bn investment in fleet renewal.

“Between April and July, six of the series will join the Intra-Northern-Europe line to serve the Baltic and Scandinavian ports from the hubs of Hamburg and Bremerhaven. Four other ships will join the Intra-Mediterranean line between the end of September and the end of November,” said CMA CGM.

The design was created in close collaboration with Chantiers de l'Atlantique, and advanced from concept to industrial prototype by Danish engineering firm Odense Marine Technique. GTT worked closely on the design and conception of the 1,053 cu m storage tank and gas supply system.

The last vessel in the series is expected to be delivered with a 1 MW hydrogen fuel cell, one of the most powerful fuel cells on board a ship, when it hits the water in 2025.