CMA CGM Notre Dame bunkers bio-LNG in Rotterdam

The CMA CGM Notre Dame has made its maiden call at the Port of Rotterdam.

CMA CGM Notre Dame bunkers bio-LNG in Rotterdam

The dual-fuel vessel, christened in Le Havre on 2 July, sails under the French flag and ranks among the largest container ships in the world.

The vessel is currently the largest LNG-powered container ship in the world, with an LNG tank capacity of 18,600 cubic-metres (m³). Alongside LNG, the port noted that it is also capable of running on bio-LNG and, in future, synthetic fuels such as e-methane.

With a capacity of 24,212 TEUs, including 1,600 reefer containers, a length of almost 400 metres and a beam of 61 metres, the Notre Dame is the largest containership sailing under the French flag.

During its visit to Rotterdam, the ship was bunkered for the first time with bio-LNG produced in Europe, derived from organic waste from the agricultural and agri-food sectors.

Bio-LNG, or liquid bio-methane, is a renewable fuel that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by at least 67 per cent over its full life cycle compared with fossil marine fuels.

Its use supports the maritime sector’s energy transition while making use of already widely deployed LNG bunkering infrastructure.

Toon Pierré, General Manager, Benelux cluster, CMA CGM, said: “We are proud to welcome the CMA CGM Notre Dame to Rotterdam. This port call reflects the strength of our long-standing partnership with the port of Rotterdam and our shared commitment to a more efficient, innovative and sustainable maritime sector, while continuing to support our clients with world-class connections.”

Rotterdam is one of the world’s top three bunkering ports and a leading global hub for biofuel bunkering, handling 10 million tonnes of fuel annually. Alongside traditional fuels, the port’s range of alternative and sustainable fuel options continues to grow each year, as Rotterdam works towards a future of multi-fuel bunkering and net-zero shipping emissions by 2050.