CMA CGM Baalbeck: First LNG-Powered Containership to Call Ports in Australia

The maritime industry is witnessing a significant milestone as CMA CGM Baalbeck, an 8,000 TEU containership owned by French shipping major CMA CGM, has become “the very first” LNG-powered containership to call ports in Australia.

The dual-fuel LNG-powered boxship, constructed by South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Samho and delivered to CMA CGM in February 2025, is operated by ANL, CMA CGM’s Oceania-focused unit. The newbuild is also compatible with low-carbon energies such as biomethane and e-methane.

After sailing from Southeast Asia, CMA CGM Baalbeck made its inaugural call at Patrick Terminals at the Port of Melbourne on March 18. The vessel is set to continue its Australian journey, visiting ports in Sydney, Adelaide, and Fremantle.

Shane Walden, ANL Managing Director, expressed pride in the vessel’s journey, stating that it marks another significant step for ANL and the CMA CGM Group in Australia and the broader Oceania region. Walden emphasized the commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 through the use of low-carbon energy sources like LNG.

Walden further highlighted the environmental benefits of LNG-powered vessels, emphasizing the improvement in air quality compared to conventional ships of similar size. He also noted that the use of LNG paves the way for other renewable low-carbon energy sources, such as biomethane, to be utilized in the containerized shipping space in Oceania.

This achievement marks the second first for container shipping and ANL in the Oceania region, following a successful biofuel-powered voyage in 2022. The biofuel trial, conducted in partnership with Woolworths Group and supported by the Queensland Government, aligns with the company’s sustainability goals.

In line with its Net Zero Carbon by 2050 targets, CMA CGM has made significant investments in ordering LNG and methanol-powered ships. The company plans to have 153 vessels capable of using low-carbon energies, such as biogas, biomethanol, and synthetic fuels, in its fleet by 2029.

Recently, CMA CGM Iron, the company’s first dual-fuel methanol vessel, made history by becoming the first of its kind to visit Abu Dhabi at CMA Terminals Khalifa Port.