CMA CGM has announced the maiden voyage of the CMA CGM Notre Dame, which the French shipping group describes as the world’s largest LNG-powered container ship.

The vessel measures 400 metres in length and 75 metres in height, with a capacity of 24,212 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). According to CMA CGM, the ship combines scale, performance and lower emissions through its LNG propulsion system.

Among the first operations carried out during the voyage was an LNG bunkering operation in which 18,000 cbm of LNG was loaded on board.

The Notre Dame is the first of a series of ten next-generation vessels, all of which will carry the French flag.

CMA CGM added that the ship represents a new era of innovation at sea, with teams both onboard and ashore working to meet high standards of performance and efficiency.