CMA CGM’s LNG-powered octet to debut Wärtsilä’s new methane-reducing engine technology

French shipping heavyweight CMA CGM has placed the inaugural order for Finnish technology group Wärtsilä’s engines outfitted with a new methane emissions-slashing feature which are to be installed on a liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered boxship octet.

As disclosed, the 100,000 dwt container vessels were ordered en bloc in September 2023 and are currently under construction at China’s Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding yard. The units are scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027. According to London-based data provider VesselsValue, they possess a length of 299,9 meters and a beam of 45,6 meters.

The engine order for the first two newbuildings was reportedly secured by Wärtsilä’s joint venture company CWEC (Shanghai) in the fourth quarter of 2024. The equipment for the octet is slated for a handover to the yard commencing in early 2026.

It is understood that the eight 9,200 TEU vessels will each operate with two 6-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF and two 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF EnviroPac engines, as well as the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems.

As reported, owing to the Finnish player’s new EnviroPac feature intended for its 34DF constant-speed engine, the boxships are expected to not just minimize their methane emissions but simultaneously maintain their engines’ ‘high-power’ output while remaining compliant with the IMO Tier 3 NOx requirements.

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

“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,”Stefan Nysjö, Vice President of Power Supply, Wärtsilä Marine, added.

Liquefied natural gas has played an important role as a transition fuel, mending the gap between conventional diesel fuels and future carbon-neutral or carbon-free alternatives. That said, its main component is methane. When burnt as a fuel, a very small amount may not combust properly, which leads to methane escaping into the atmosphere.

To decrease overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from engines over the next decade, according to Wärtsilä, cutting methane emissions is one of the most effective measures that ‘easily’ complements other efforts to slash carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Within this context, the Finnish company elaborated that, when operating with LNG, the EnviroPac feature is projected to cut methane emissions by 50% compared to the standard 34DF engine, without altering the existing power output.

On top of the environmental merits, decreasing emissions is believed to impact costs, too, especially when operating in EU waters as it could lead to lesser penalties under both the EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and the FuelEU Maritime regulation, which entered force January 1, 2025.

In October 2024, Wärtsilä unveiled new NextDF technology for its Wärtsilä 25DF LNG dual-fuel engine to cut methane emissions. As informed, this feature is anticipated to minimize methane emissions to less than 2% of fuel use across all load points, achieving as low as 1.1% in a wide load range.

From a broader perspective, more recently, namely in January 2025, three new studies done by the UK-based classification society Lloyd’s Register-established Safetytech Accelerator, in collaboration with industry majors Chevron, Carnival Corporation, Shell, and Seapea, revealed strong potential for cutting fugitive methane emissions in the maritime industry.

The feasibility studies were done as part of the flagship Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII), which was launched in September 2022 by SafetyTech Accelerator.