CMA CGM Welcomes First 15,000-TEU Methanol Container Ship
French shipping and logistics giant CMA CGM Group has welcomed the first in a series of six 15,000-TEU methanol container ships as part of its decarbonization strategy. The delivery expands the company’s owned fleet to 400 vessels within a global fleet of more than 650 ships.
CMA CGM Monte Cristo Enters Service in 2026
CMA CGM has taken delivery of the CMA CGM Monte Cristo, which is scheduled to enter commercial service on January 29, 2026, in Ningbo. The vessel will operate on the BEX2 – Phoenician Express service, connecting North Asia with the Levant and the Adriatic Sea.
Vessel Specifications and Capacity
With a maximum capacity of 16,204 TEU, including around 1,000 reefer plugs, the vessel measures 366 meters in length and 51 meters in beam. It will sail under the Maltese flag and is crewed by 23 seafarers under the command of Captain Predrag Vojvodic.
Shipyard and Naming Ceremony
The CMA CGM Monte Cristo was built at DSIC Tianjin Shipyard. Its naming ceremony was held on January 21, 2026, in Tianjin, with Liu Liping, Deputy General Manager of EPPEN BIOTECH, serving as godmother.
Safety, Comfort, and Fleet Strategy
The vessel is designed to meet high standards in safety, comfort, and accommodation. Its arrival represents a key milestone reflecting the company’s long-term investment strategy, which is built on asset ownership and the integration of advanced technologies to improve the environmental and operational performance of its fleet.
Expanding the Methanol-Powered Fleet
This ship is the 11th methanol container vessel in the CMA CGM fleet, out of 24 such ships on order. As part of its commitment to achieving net zero carbon by 2050, the company continues to reduce the environmental footprint of maritime transport and logistics.
Dual-Fuel Roadmap Toward 2031
The CMA CGM Group is preparing to operate around 200 dual-fuel LNG and methanol container ships capable of running on low-carbon energy by 2031. The arrival of the CMA CGM Monte Cristo follows the delivery of the 15,000-TEU dual-fuel methanol vessel CMA CGM Antigone in December 2025.
