CMA CGM has signed a long-term agreement with Shanghai International Port Group to expand the use of onshore power supply to cut emissions.
The approach, dubbed as “cold ironing”, allows ships to shut down auxiliary engines while at berth, hence eliminating emissions — including carbon dioxide, sulphur oxide, particulate matter and nitrogen oxide — and reducing noise pollution.
“From today, all fully-fitted CMA CGM containerships calling at the port of Shanghai will systematically use the onshore power connection,” said the French carrier in a statement on Thursday.
Earlier, the two companies completed a technical trial of the facilities at the Yangshan Deepwater port in Shanghai in late November, which involved a large containership, the 13,982 teu APL Fullerton (IMO: 9632026), among several other vessels.
CMA CGM said its newbuildings and the most recent vessels to enter its fleet were equipped with the technology to use cold ironing. Meanwhile, “an extensive retrofitting programme” is being conducted to extend the facilities to other ships.
The company expects 13 of its vessels to connect to onshore power when calling at the port of Shanghai by the end of this year and a further 50 by mid-2023.
“CMA CGM is steadfastly committed to installing more environmentally responsible solutions on board our vessels, the group supports cold ironing and we will continue to equip our fleet accordingly,” said CMA CGM’s China chief executive Ludovic Renou.
CMA CGM and SIPG have also collaborated on liquefied natural gas bunkering at the port.
In March this year, Hai Gang Wei Lai (IMO: 9886756), a 20,000 cu m LNG bunker barge deployed by the Chinese port operator, fuelled 15,000 teu CMA CGM Symi (IMO: 9867839) via a ship-to-ship transfer.
“We firmly believe that enhanced co-operation between ports and shipping companies will accelerate the journey of decarbonisation,” said SIPG general manager of engineering Wenbin Luo.
Source: The Lloyd’s List