THE delivery of the 18,000-TEU CMA CGM Vasci de Gama occasions the launch of the biggest ship ever built in a Chinese shipyard, declared the French shipping giant CMA CGM from its Marseilles headquarters. 

The CMA CGM Vasci de Gama, named after a 16th century Portuguese explorer, who discovered the sea route to India, will sail under the British flag.

It is also the company's largest vessel, and the third of CMA CGM's six 18,000 TEUers. The ship, built by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), is 399 metres long and 54 metres wide. 

Calling 11 different countries, the CMA CGM Vasci de Gama will go into French Asia Line (FAL) on the Asia-Europe route. 

"In a globalised economy, this gigantic vessel has the capacity to transport almost 200,000 tons of goods between European, Middle East and Asian markets," said a company statement. 

The ship is equipped with the latest environmental technologies, and the engine is of the latest generation, a twisted leading edge rudder with bulb as well as an optimised hull design. 

Those innovations decrease the CMA CGM Vasco de Gama CO2 emissions by 10 per cent compared to the previous vessel generation with an estimated emission of 37 grammes of CO2 per kilometre per container. As such, it is one of the greenest goods transporters in the world. 

In accordance with the CMA CGM policy, the ship complies with the environmental footprint required by 2025 energy efficiency regulations. 

Two 18,000-TEU sisterships, the CMA CGM Zheng He and the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin will arrive from the CSSC yards in September and November.