The CMA CGM Group – a global player in sea, land, air, and logistics solutions – has signed a letter of intent for six state-of-the-art LNG-powered containerships to be built at Cochin Shipyard Limited.
With this move, the Group becomes the first major foreign carrier to commission LNG vessels from an Indian shipyard and all six vessels will be registered under the Indian flag. The project at Cochin Shipyard will also be run with the technical cooperation of Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
The approximate cost of construction, according to official sources, is $50 million per vessel.
The new builds each with a capacity of 1,700 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), can run on LNG and is ready for low-carbon fuels, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Vessels will be delivered from 2029 to 2031, in line with the Group’s fleet renewal and energy transition strategy to be Net Zero Carbon by 2050.
Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, said: “CMA CGM is the first international shipping company to order LNG vessels built in India. This reflects the trust we place in India’s industrial and technological capabilities. Beyond shipbuilding, we are strengthening our partnerships in logistics, maritime training, and sustainable transport to support India’s growth and contribute to the decarbonization of global trade.”
Madhu S Nair, CMD of Cochin Shipyard, said: “CSL is committed to deliver high quality vessels with sustainable solutions to meet the market expectation of the future shipping. This project is also of great significance to CSL as we are collaborating with the largest shipbuilding group HD KSOE as the major partner, which further reinforces our commitment to bring the best in class solutions through partnerships, to serve clients across the globe.
With a 34-year presence in the country and a workforce of approximately 17,000 employees, CMA CGM plays an essential role in connecting India to global markets through 19 weekly maritime services. The Group is also actively investing in India’s port infrastructure, with significant strategic stakes in terminals at Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal (NSFT), near Mumbai, and Mundra Port.
It is enhancing local maritime employment through expanded crewing and manning operations in India. CMA CGM will reflag four vessels under the Indian registry in 2025 and aims to recruit 1,000 Indian seafarers by the end of the year. In 2026, CMA CGM plans to hire an additional 500 Indian seafarers.
Published on October 15, 2025