French liner operator CMA CGM will send around 100 of its vessels to the European facilities of Damen Shipyards for significant modifications, which are expected to deliver fuel efficiencies of more than 10%.
The upgrades will take place at Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque (DSDu) in France and Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam (DSAm) in the Netherlands, which between them have some of Europe’s largest dry docks and significant experience in complex refits and retrofits.
The installation of bulbs on the bows of the CMA CGM vessels will be among the most important modifications.
The Marseille-based ocean carrier has been using shipyards in China and Middle East, but this agreement marks the first time CMA CGM chose European yards for these complex modifications. Nine stops by CMA CGM vessels are scheduled for this year, five at DSDu and four at DSAm. Three of these will be for the installation of bow bulbs, with the first being on the LNG-fuelled container feeder ship Polar. The 120-tonne bulb has been fabricated at DSAm and will be fitted there shortly. The remaining two vessels will be the 366-metre Arctic and the 170-metre Aurora.
According to the statement, the bulb retrofits will yield savings in fuel consumption of between 5 to 10%, but CMA CGM is looking at additional upgrades that can further contribute to the efficiency of its vessels.
Therefore, Damen is offering packages that not only include the bow bulb, but also a propeller upgrade, modifications to the propeller nozzle, and silicone paint. Each of these upgrades will deliver extra fuel economies of between 2 and 5%, according to the statement, yielding a return on investment in less than three years as well as significant reductions in carbon and other pollutants.
Three of the vessels will also be equipped to access shore power, thereby reducing their emissions when alongside ports that offer the service.
“We look forward to a long-term partnership between CMA CGM and Damen,” stated Freek van den Eijkel, Commercial Manager at DSAm, adding, “DSDu already has a relationship with CMA CGM, but together DSAm and DSDu can deliver the services that CMA CGM requires with their excellent facilities and easy access to and from the major shipping routes.”
