Largest Chinese-built Containership Delivered

Shipping group CMA CGM has taken delivery of the newbuild box ship CMA CGM Vasco de Gama [sic] on July 27. Built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), the 18,000 TEUs vessel is, with its 399 meters length and 54 meters width, is the largest ship in the CMA CGM fleet and the largest containership ever built in a Chinese shipyard.

Calling 11 different countries, the U.K.-flagged CMA CGM Vasco de Gama is positioned on the CMA CGM Group’s French Asia Line (FAL) joining Europe to Asia. According to the shipper, this gigantic vessel has the capacity to transport almost 200,000 tons of goods between European, Middle East and Asian markets. 

The CMA CGM Vasco de Gama is equipped with an engine of the latest generation, a twisted leading edge rudder with bulb and an optimized hull design, together decreasing the ship’s CO2 emissions by 10 percent compared to the previous vessel generation, CMA CGM said. With an estimated emission of 37g of CO2/km for each container, the CMA CGM Vasco de Gama is one of the greenest goods transport means in the world. Furthermore, in accordance with the CMA CGM Group’s commitment, the CMA CGM Vasco de Gama environmental footprint responds to the 2025 energy efficiency regulations.  

The CMA CGM Vasco de Gama is the first 18,000 TEUs containership ever built by a Chinese shipyard. The CMA CGM Zheng He and CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, two other vessels of the 18,000 TEUs series from the CSSC shipyards, will be delivered on September and November. 

The CMA CGM Vasco de Gama is named after the 16th century Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who discovered the India route by sailing around Africa and passing the Cape of Good Hope.