CMA CGM vessels
Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam supports CMA CGM with increased vessel efficiency
- Date
- March - November 2024
- Ship name
- CMA CGM vessels
- Ship type
- Container Vessel
- Yard
- Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam
- Tasks performed for this project
- Refit
In 2024, as part of its commitment to cleaner operations, shipping and logistics company CMA CGM contracted Damen Shiprepair to perform refits on six of its vessels. The work, to be undertaken by Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque (DSDu) and Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam (DSAm), would improve the vessels’ fuel efficiency by more then 10 percent.
Fulfilling its scope in the project, DSAm has completed the installation of three bulbous bows to the LNG-fuelled container vessels Polar, Arctic and Aurora. At 170 metres in length, the vessels were comfortably able to dock at the Amsterdam yard, which can cater to vessels up to 250 metres.
In addition to its ample capacity, DSAm also offers access to sister company Niron Staal. Located at the Amsterdam yard, the specialist steel construction, machining, and piping company has gained extensive experience in steel works for the maritime and offshore sectors. Applying this knowledge, Niron Staal undertook the fabrication of the 120 tonne bulbs for the vessels.
The new bulbs are shorter than those they replaced, and have a less upstanding ‘nose’. Niron Staal fabricated the bulbs in 70 days. After this, they were moved to a temporary on-site location for blasting and painting.
With that completed, the bulbs were transported to the drydock, where they were lowered into position using the yard’s two 90 tonne capacity cranes. From here, the constructions were driven precisely into position with the aid of two SPMTs to be welded and fastened to the vessels.
With fabrication and installation performed at a single location, the project attained optimal efficiency, resulting in minimal downtime of the vessels. Following installation of the bulbs, the vessels’ fuel efficiency has been considerably improved, with fuel savings of between 5 and 10 percent.
Additionally, Damen offered CMA CGM a range of additional modifications to further reduce fuel consumption. These included propeller upgrade, modification of the propeller nozzle and silicone paint applied to the thruster blades. Each of these measures offers additional fuel savings of between 2 and 5 percent, ensuring a return on investment in less than three years following the refit.
At the same time, the vessels’ operation now produces significantly lower emissions, a result aligned with both CMA CGM and Damen’s sustainability ambitions.