CMA CGM Notre Dame Completes Maiden Port Call at Rotterdam

CMA CGM Notre Dame - one of the most technologically advanced vessels in the CMA CGM fleet - has completed its maiden port call at the Port of Rotterdam, just days after its official naming ceremony was held in Le Havre, France, on 2 July.

A New Flagship for Low-Emission Container Shipping

Flying the French flag and boasting a capacity of 24,212 TEU, CMA CGM Notre Dame is one of the largest container ships in the world and currently the largest LNG-powered container vessel in commercial service.

Key specifications of the vessel include:

●    Length: Nearly 400 meters.

●    Beam: 61 meters.

●    Reefer capacity: 1,600 electrical plugs for refrigerated containers.

During its call at Rotterdam, CMA CGM Notre Dame also completed its first bio-LNG bunkering operation. The renewable fuel is produced in Europe from agricultural residues and organic waste generated by the food processing industry.

According to CMA CGM, bio-LNG can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 67% compared with conventional marine fuels.

The vessel's propulsion system has also been designed with fuel flexibility, enabling it to operate on conventional LNG today while remaining compatible with future synthetic fuels such as e-methane, supporting the industry's long-term transition toward low-emission shipping.

Rotterdam Reinforces Its Position as an Alternative Marine Fuel Hub

Commenting on the vessel's arrival, Toon Pierré, Managing Director of CMA CGM Benelux, said: "We are proud to welcome the CMA CGM Notre Dame to Rotterdam. This port call reflects the strength of our long-standing partnership with the Port of Rotterdam and our shared commitment to a more efficient, innovative and sustainable maritime sector, while continuing to support our clients with world-class connections."

The successful bio-LNG bunkering of CMA CGM Notre Dame further strengthens Rotterdam's position as one of the world's leading marine bunkering hubs. The port currently supplies approximately 10 million tonnes of marine fuel annually and continues to invest heavily in infrastructure supporting alternative marine fuels, including LNG, bio-LNG, methanol, and hydrogen.

Advancing the Green Transition in Maritime Shipping

The maiden call of CMA CGM Notre Dame marks more than the commercial deployment of one of the world's largest container ships - it also underscores the accelerating shift within the shipping industry toward low-carbon fuels.

As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) continues to tighten its decarbonization framework, investments in LNG- and bio-LNG-powered vessels, together with the expansion of alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure at major hub ports such as Rotterdam, are expected to play a pivotal role in the maritime industry's pathway toward net-zero emissions by 2050.
 

See more:

• Container Ship Attack Deepens Maritime Security Crisis in the Strait of Hormuz
• International Shipping and Logistics Market Update Week 28/2026 | Phaata
• Toward Net Zero: Hapag-Lloyd Expands Shore Power Usage at the Port of Hamburg
• The Maritime Landscape in the Strait of Hormuz Amid New Strategic Adjustments
• COSCO schedules: Vietnam - North America in Jul 2026
• SITC updates Vietnam-Intra Asia sailing schedules in Jul 2026
• Transit Times Cut by Up to 14 Days: Maersk Reinstates MECL Service via Suez Canal
• SHOW INTRODUCTION THE 4TH VIET NAM INTERNATIONAL LOGISTICS EXHIBITION (VILOG 2026)
• Panama Canal Faces Potential Draft Restrictions in 2027
• Air Freight Rates Remain Elevated Despite Gulf Ceasefire Driving Down Jet Fuel Prices
• Hormuz Tensions Escalate: Commercial Vessels Hit by Missiles as U.S.–Iran Talks Stall
• Gemini Cooperation to Trial the Resumption of a Service via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea
• ONE Launches Mediterranean Africa Express (MAX) Service, Strengthening West Africa–Mediterranean Connectivity
• CMA CGM Closes In on Becoming the World’s Second-Largest Container Shipping Line
• CMA CGM Raises FAK Freight Rates on Asia–Europe and North Africa Trade Lanes
• Maersk Significantly Increases Emergency Contingency Surcharge (ECS) on Indian Subcontinent–Latin America Trade

Source: Phaata.com (According to Container News)

► Find Better Freight Rates & Logistics Service Providers!