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The CMA CGM Group is pleased to announce the delivery today, 10th of November, in South
Korea, of the CMA CGM CHRISTOPHE COLOMB. New flagship of the Group, it is to date, one of
the world’s largest container ship and has impressive dimensions : 365 meters long, 51.2 meters
wide, with a draft of 15.5 meters.
Operated on the Asia / Europe trade, driving force of the world economy, CMA CGM CHRISTOPHE
COLOMB proves the Group’s ability to move forward in the current economic context.
Moreover, CMA CGM has decided to deploy its vessel on a line operated in partnership with Maersk
(1 vessel CMA CGM, 9 vessels Maersk). A decision that enables the Group to improve service quality
and optimize its new transport capacity.
« This new giant of the seas is a strategic asset for CMA CGM while volumes and freight rates on
the Asia to Europe market are recovering. Thanks to its size and equipment, this modern and
competitive vessel enables the Group to meet its growing customer demand on this key market while
ensuring economies of scale » explains Nicolas Sartini, Senior Vice President Asia / Europe Lines,
CMA CGM Group.
In compliance with CMA CGM’s environmental policy, CMA CGM CHRISTOPHE COLOMB is the first
vessel of the Group equipped with a Pre-Swirl Stator. This ingenious new device, together with the
twisted leading-edge rudder, maximizes propulsion efficiency and optimizes the vessel’s
hydrodynamics to cut fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 2 to 4 %.
Energy is also conserved by an electronically controlled engine which reduces oil and fuel
consumption by respectively 25 and 3%. Thanks to this new engine, the vessel can – if necessary –
be operated at super eco-speed (14 to 15 knots). In addition, CMA CGM CHRISTOPHE COLOMB is
equipped with a Fast Oil Recovery System which enables bunkers to be rapidly recovered at any
time, hence significantly limiting the environmental consequences should there be an incident at sea.
Technically, the vessel distinguishes itself by the position of its superstructure, located in the front,
which maximizes space utilization, guarantees a better visibility from the bridge and reinforces the
vessel’s hull. Moreover, the tanks of CMA CGM CHRISTOPHE COLOMB, located underneath the
superstructure, are protected by the double hull of the vessel, in compliance with the MARPOL 12A
regulation which will come into effect in August 2010.
The vessel will start its rotation in Shanghai on the 11th of November and then on to Ningbo (12th
of November), Xiamen (14th of November), Hong Kong (15th of November), Yantian (16th of
November) and Algeciras (3rd of December) before calling Rotterdam on the 7th of December
and, finally, Bremerhaven on the 9th of December.
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