CMA CGM Takes Delivery of Pacific, Third of Four Sister Ships for Asia-ECSA Service

The Chinese shipyard New Times Shipyard (NTS), also known as New Century Shipyard, delivered the containership CMA CGM Pacific, with a capacity of 8,454 TEUs and liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion. The vessel will join the SEAS3 service, which connects Asia with the East Coast of South America and which CMA CGM operates jointly with Maersk.

The vessel is the third of four sister ships that NTS is building for the Singapore-based non-operating owner Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS). The CMA CGM Pacific follows the CMA CGM Indian, delivered in September, while the final unit in the series, the CMA CGM Austral, is expected to be delivered in November. All four vessels are committed under long-term charter agreements with CMA CGM.

The CMA CGM Pacific and its sister ships correspond to the Sealion 8000 LNG design, developed by SDARI. These are compact-profile vessels, 260 meters in length overall and 45.6 meters in beam, with a capacity of 18 container rows across and a deadweight of approximately 101,000 tonnes. They are fitted with 1,300 reefer plugs for refrigerated containers and are powered by Everllence 6G80ME-C10.5-GI-EGRTC engines, formerly known as MAN B&W, delivering 24,800 kW of power and enabling a top speed of 21 knots.

In late October, NTS also delivered the CMA CGM Austral, the final unit in the series of four sister ships for EPS. Unlike the Pacific, this vessel will join CMA CGM's M2X service, also known as Mexico Express, which connects Asia with Mexico, according to Alphaliner.