According to imarinenews.com, French shipping giant CMA CGM has ordered six new 3,100-TEU container ships from China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyard.
Technical Specifications and Strategic Context
The vessels will measure 199.9 meters in total length, with a beam of 35.2 meters and a designed draft of 8.5 meters. This order marks CMA CGM’s second collaboration with the Weihai shipyard in the newbuilding market — a relationship that began three years ago. The shipyard, which primarily constructs high-end passenger-ro-ro and car-ro-ro vessels, views the container ship project as especially significant given its narrow product focus.
Historical Precedent and Market Positioning
China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyard last undertook a container ship project in 2025, when it received a joint order from Singapore-based East Pacific Shipping and XT Shipping for four 3,160-TEU container ships — its first such order in a decade. That earlier contract underscores the rarity of container ship construction at the yard and highlights the strategic weight of the current CMA CGM deal.
Recent LNG Dual-Fuel Investment
In November 2023, CMA CGM placed another order with the same shipyard: two liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel ro-ro passenger vessels valued at nearly 400 million euros. Those vessels are scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2027, representing CMA CGM’s inaugural investment in ro-ro passenger vessel construction.
Source: imarinenews.com
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
