FRENCH shipping giant CMA CGM has ordered ten 2,000-TEU ice-class vessels from South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD), reports London's Loadstar.

The total contract values at US$627 million and HMD declared the ships will be delivered by the end of September 2024.

CMA CGM asked for high-pressure MEGI engines and the fuel tanks to be mounted on the deck.

CMA CGM could deploy the ships in the Baltic Sea, following CEO Rodolphe Saade's promise that the company's ships will not transit Russia's Northern Sea Route.

CMA CGM posted a net profit of $5.6 billion for Q3, making it the highest-grossing liner operator for the period.

The delivery of 13 newbuild vessels this year has caused CMA CGM above China state-owned carrier Cosco, to be third-ranked by a current margin of 150,000 TEU at 3.1 million TEU.