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CMA CGM Notre Dame, the largest container ship currently sailing under the French flag and one of the most technologically advanced LNG-powered vessels built, made its maiden call in Singapore on June 1
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The vessel is LNG-powered, 400 meters long, and capable of carrying 24,212 TEUs
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It is deployed on the French Asia Line, the group’s flagship Asia-Europe service, with a 102-day rotation calling at Ningbo, Shanghai, Yantian, Singapore, Le Havre, Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Tangier Med
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The full 10-vessel series will carry the same flag, supported by 135 newly recruited French seafarers
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Environmental features include an aerodynamic windshield, an 18,600 m³ LNG tank, smart energy-management systems, and a carrying capacity increase of 280 containers with no increase in physical dimensions
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The vessel features a fully digitalized bridge with augmented reality navigation, AI-driven route optimization, and 360-degree visualization, supported by CMA CGM Fleet Centers in Marseille, Miami, and Singapore
The CMA CGM Notre Dame, the largest containership currently sailing under the French flag and one of the most technologically advanced LNG-powered vessels ever built, made its maiden call in Singapore on June 1, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the French shipping giant’s drive to modernize its global fleet and accelerate the decarbonization of maritime transport.
The vessel departed Shanghai at the start of its inaugural commercial voyage and, as of this writing, is transiting through Singapore before proceeding to France and other parts of Europe, with arrival in Le Havre expected in early July, the company said in a media release.
Stretching 400 meters (m) in length, 62 m in width, and 75 m in height, the CMA CGM Notre Dame is engineered to carry up to 24,212 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
It is deployed on the French Asia Line, CMA CGM Group’s flagship service linking Asia with Europe, one of the world’s most critical trade corridors, on a rotation of approximately 102 days. The route includes calls at Ningbo, Shanghai, Yantian, Singapore, Le Havre, Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Tangier Med.
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The vessel is registered under the French International Register, a decision announced in November 2025 by Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group. The entire 10-vessel series will sail under the French flag, backed by the recruitment of 135 French seafarers specifically trained to operate the new class of ships.
Next-generation design and tools
Beyond its scale, the Notre Dame represents a generational leap in vessel design. Its LNG propulsion system is paired with an aerodynamic windshield that reduces energy consumption, an 18,600-cubic-meter LNG tank providing sufficient autonomy for Asia-Europe rotations, and smart energy-management systems for powering and ventilating its 1,600 reefer plugs. Engineers also optimized the hull architecture to accommodate 280 additional containers without increasing the vessel’s physical dimensions.
The ship’s fully digitalized bridge equips the crew with real-time navigation tools enhanced by augmented reality, advanced trajectory prediction systems, and 360-degree visualization for safer port maneuvering. Embedded artificial intelligence continuously optimizes routes, adjusts speed, and monitors energy use, all supported remotely by CMA CGM’s Fleet Centers in Marseille, Miami, and Singapore.
The vessel is operated by a crew of approximately 30 specialized seafarers under the command of Captain Nicolas Le Scornet.
The Notre Dame is the first in a series of 10 vessels named after emblematic landmarks of French heritage, with deliveries scheduled between 2026 and 2028.
A public inauguration ceremony is set for July 2 in Le Havre to mark the ship’s official entry into service and its arrival in France.
The Singapore call carries strategic weight beyond the voyage itself. CMA CGM has maintained a presence in the city-state for more than 35 years, operating an extensive network of long-haul and intra-Asia services through brands including CMA CGM, ANL, CNC, APL, and CEVA Logistics. Singapore also functions as a central node in the Group’s rollout of its next-generation dual-fuel fleet.
CMA CGM has deepened its partnership with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore on maritime decarbonization and digital innovation initiatives in recent years. The Group is also contributing to Singapore’s startup ecosystem through ZEBOX Asia Pacific, which supports ventures focused on sustainable and technology-driven maritime logistics.
The arrival of Notre Dame underscores CMA CGM’s broader ambition to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with LNG-powered vessels serving as a transitional bridge toward that target in the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
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