ANL, part of the CMA CGM Group, continues to show leadership in the journey to net zero carbon by 2050 with its latest move into lower emission maritime fuels. This month, Australia will see the first container ship voyage powered by LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). The vessel undertaking this voyage is the CMA CGM Baalbeck, an 8,000 TEU dual-fuel LNG powered newbuilding which is also compatible with low carbon energies such as biomethane and e-methane. The CMA CGM Baalbeck will call Patrick Terminal’s in Melbourne followed by calls in Sydney, Adelaide and Fremantle after making its way from Southeast Asia.
ANL: a pioneer in Shipping’s decarbonation in Australia and Oceania as part of the CMA CGM Group
This milestone is the second first for container shipping and ANL in the Oceania region following ANL’s biofuel powered voyage in 2022. The biofuel trial was conducted in partnership with Woolworths Group and supported by Queensland Government through the Biofutures 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan.
To achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2050, the CMA CGM Group has invested nearly USD 20 billion to order LNG and methanol-powered ships and will have 153 ships capable of using low-carbon energies (biogas, biomethanol and synthetic fuels) in its fleet by 2029. As shipping carries over 90% of global trade and accounts for approximately 3% of global GHG emissions, it remains one of the most carbon-efficient modes of transport. However, reducing the industry’s emissions remains a key priority in global decarbonisation efforts.
LNG: a major step towards Shipping’s decarbonisation and a significant improvement in air quality
LNG is an industrial-scale solution readily available today, offering a significant improvement in air quality. Compared to standard bunker fuel, it reduces sulfur dioxide emissions by 99%, fine particulate matter by 91%, and nitrogen dioxide emissions by 92%, surpassing both international and local regulatory standards. LNG vessels are also biomethane and e-methane ready due to the chemical similarity of the fuels, presenting a pathway to renewable low carbon energy.
ANL MD Calls out Fifty Year History of Innovation
Shane Walden, ANL Managing Director says, ‘This is another proud step for ANL and the CMA CGM Group in Australia and the broader Oceania region. This step further underscores our commitment to net zero carbon by 2050. The use of LNG on this vessel allows a significant improvement in air quality when compared to a conventional vessel of the same size. What’s more, an LNG vessel like the CMA CGM Baalbeck clears a pathway for other renewable low carbon energy sources such as biomethane to be used in the Oceania containerised shipping space.
ANL has continued to connect Southeast Asia and Australia since the 1970s and has expanded this set of services to a string of three in AAX-S, AAX-E and AAX-W in line with our customers’ needs. These services carry essential cargo for Australian businesses and consumers as well as supporting key Australian export commodities including grains, paper products, meat and dairy. We are pleased to support our clients, and the environment with this new investment.’
About CMA CGM
The CMA CGM Group is a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions. Present in 170 countries, it employs 160,000 people, of which nearly 6,000 in Marseilles where its head office is located.
The world’s 3rd largest shipping company, CMA CGM serves more than 420 ports across 5 continents with a fleet of over 650 vessels. In 2024, CMA CGM carried over 23 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) containers. Its subsidiary CEVA Logistics, one of the world’s top 5 players, manages 750 warehouses and delivered 22 million tons of inland freight cargo in 2024.
