CMA CGM confirms order for world’s largest containerships

French ship management company CMA-CGM officially confirmed the order for nine 22,000-TEUs container ships for delivery from the end of 2019.

As China Daily newspaper reported last month, Chinese yard Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co confirmed that it and its sister yard Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co, both owned by state-run China State Shipbuilding Corporation, had received a Letter of Intent from CMA CGM for the ships, which would be capable of carrying 22,000 TEU, becoming among the largest container ships ever.

The official confirmation by the French giant was included in the company’s second quarter financial results, published on Friday, outlining also a 33.3% increase in volumes carried and a 56.8% rise in revenues.

    “In order to keep pace with market growth and the Group’s needs, the Board of Directors of CMA CGM has approved the order for 9 container ships of 22,000 twenty-foot equivalent (TEU). This order, of which the first ships will come into service from the end of 2019, will further reduce unit transport costs, particularly on the Asia-Europe routes,” the company said in its official statement.