FRENCH shipping giant CMA CGM, which plans to be carbon neutral by 2050, has taken delivery of CMA CGM Champs Elysees, its second 23,000-TEUer powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the company announced.

The newbuild, which follows flagship CMA CGM Jacques Saade delivered in September, is part of a series of nine ships ordered from CSSC's shipyard in Shanghai, designed as the world's most efficient ultra large container vessels.

LNG fuel, which enables a 99 per cent reduction in sulphur dioxide and fine particle emissions and an 85 per cent reduction in nitrogen dioxide emissions, is a key component of the CMA CGM's environmental ambitions.

WingGD is the primary engine designer, while Wartsila provided systems and auxiliary systems. Cryostar provided the LNG pumps, and GTT designed the LNG tanks and provided related technical services.

In addition to LNG engines, the nine ultra-large (400 metre long and 61 metre wide) ships feature a redesigned straight bow with an integrated bulb, a redesigned rudder, and a redesigned propeller all of which substantially improve the vessel's hydrodynamics, thereby reducing fuel consumption.

The Bureau Veritas-classed vessels will be registered at the French International Register (FIR). They will bear the names of landmark Parisian monuments and other renowned venues and institutions from throughout the French capital: Champs Elysees, Palais Royal, Louvre, Rivoli, Montmartre, Concorde, Trocadero and Sorbonne.