The CMA CGM Group has signed a letter of intent for six state-of-the-art LNG-powered containerships to be built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in India.
This strategic move makes the group the first major foreign carrier to commission LNG vessels from an Indian shipyard. All six vessels will be registered under the Indian flag.
The newbuilds, each with a capacity of 1 700 TEUs, are in line with the carrier’s commitment to sustainable shipping as they can run on LNG and are ready for low-carbon fuels, aligning with the Group’s ambition to be net-zero carbon by 2050.
The project at Cochin Shipyard will be run with the technical cooperation of Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
CMA CGM said the initiative underscored its commitment to India’s maritime vision and strategic national priorities, including Make in India1 and Atmanirbhar Bharat2. It is investing across the Indian maritime value chain, spanning strategic terminals, maritime services and shipbuilding, while also reflagging vessels under the Indian registry.
The group 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.
CMA CGM Group CEO Rodolphe Saadé said the milestone order reflected the company’s trust in India’s industrial and technological capabilities and the government’s ambition to make India a global shipbuilding power.
“India is a strategic country for CMA CGM, where we invest, train and innovate. Beyond shipbuilding, we are strengthening our partnerships in logistics, maritime training and sustainable transport to support India’s growth and contribute to the decarbonisation of global trade,” Saadé said.
The vessels will be delivered from 2029 to 2031, in line with the group’s fleet renewal and energy transition strategy.
Cochin Shipyard chairman and managing director Madhu Nair said the company was committed to delivering high-quality vessels with sustainable solutions to meet the market expectation of 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,” Nair said.
India represents a strategic market for the CMA CGM Group, holding a pivotal position within the group’s global agency network.
Beyond its core shipping operations, the group is actively investing in India’s port infrastructure, with significant strategic stakes in terminals at Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal (NSFT) near Mumbai and Mundra Port.
