World’s largest containership to operate on China-Europe route

French container line, CMA CGM Group, has announced that the CMA CGM Marco Polo, hailed as the largest containership in the world, has started its maiden voyage out of Ningbo, China.

The 16 000 TEU container is the first in a series of three vessels that will measure 396 meters long, 54 meters wide, with a draft of 16 meters.

The Marco Polo is equipped with the latest range of energy-efficient technology and equipment, most notably an electronically controlled engine, which is claimed to reduce fuel consumption by 3 per cent and oil lubricant feed by 25 per cent.

In addition, the vessel is fitted with a twisted leading edge rudder to optimise water flow and a Pre-Swirl Stator, which straightens the flow of water into the propeller, thereby maximising the thrust generated by the propeller’s action. Both propulsion innovations are said to reduce energy consumption and atmospheric emissions by 2 to 4 per cent.

Other technologies include an Exhaust Gas Bypass system, said to reduce fuel consumption by 1.5 per cent at low speeds, and a chemical-free ballast water treatment system.

The CMA CGM Marco Polo will operate on the company’s French Asia Line (FAL 1), which runs a fixed-day, weekly connection between Central and South China, the main exporting zones of the country, and Northern Europe.

Nicolas Sartini, CMA CGM Group Senior Vice President Asia-Europe Lines, said: “This launching reinforces the Group’s strategy, which began 20 years ago, with the opening of its own offices in China, and continues today with 34 services going from China to Europe, to North and South America, to Australia and Africa.”