CMA CGM orders methane reduction equipment for box ships

French container line, CMA CGM, is to install newly released EnviroPac methane reduction systems from Wärtsilä on eight 9,200-TEU LNG-fuelled container ships under construction at Shanghai Waigaogiao Shipbuilding (SWS) in China.

The EnviroPac systems will be fitted to Wärtsilä 34DF constant speed engines. The order for the first two vessels was booked by Wärtsilä’s joint venture company, CWEC (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. In the final quarter of 2024.

Although LNG offers a promising option to replace conventional carbon-heavy fuels, methane slip is a significant disadvantage. There are a number of initiatives in progress to tackle this issue. Cutting methane emissions from unburnt fuel in the combustion process will be one of the most effective ways of cutting greenhouse gas emissions over the next ten years, Wärtsilä said.

The company claims that EnviroPac, which is available for both new and recent versions of this engine type, will reduce methane emissions by about 50% without altering power output per cylinder of 520kW. Apart from the environmental benefit, ships operating on LNG with EnviroPac systems will incur fewer penalties in European waters arising from the bloc’s Emissions Trading System and FuelEU Maritime.

Xavier Leclercq, CMA’s vice president Newbuilding, commented: “This is a very important development that will have a major beneficial impact on our operations. We are working hard to minimise the environmental footprint throughout our fleet, and this latest technology from Wärtsilä provides strong support to these efforts.”

Wärtsilä Marine’s vice president of Power Supply, Stefan Nysjö, said: “Our long-standing relationship with CMA CGM is once again enhanced with this order, and we complement them on their vision for actively achieving sustainability throughout their fleet.”