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CMA CGM Group, the world’s third largest container shipping company, has announced the christening of its flagship, the 13,800-TEU CMA CGM Christophe Colomb, at Terminal de France, Port 2000, in Le Havre.

The first of a series of eight vessels named after great explorers, this giant of the seas is the largest containership ever to sail under the French flag.

The new-generation vessel is equipped with the latest environmental technologies, including:

* An electronic injection engine, which significantly reduces bunker fuel and oil consumption, while enabling the ship to operate at ecospeed, thereby reducing carbon emissions.

* Double-hull protected bunker tanks.

* A Fast Oil Recovery System, an innovative process for preventing marine pollution.

The CMA CGM Christophe Colomb will eventually be deployed on the FAL 5 (French Asia Line) service on the Asia-Europe trade, one of the world’s largest container shipping markets. She will call at the ports of Ningbo, Shanghai, Yantian, Tanjung Pelepas, Port Kelang, Le Havre, Hamburg, Rotterdam and Zeebrugge.

Launched in early July, the FAL 5 service has extended the group’s range of shipping solutions. Today, CMA CGM offers 10 services between Asia and Northern Europe, with capacity to carry 22,000 containers a week.

The vessel christening comes at a time when CMA CGM Group has confirmed a sharp recovery in its financial result since the beginning of the year. During the first quarter of 2010, quarterly revenue rose by 29 percent to $3.2 billion, volumes carried was up 21 percent compared with the year-earlier period, while EBITDA stood at $380 million, up $640 million year-on-year and in line with first-quarter 2008 results. Second-quarter results look set to exceed first quarter figures.

"The entry into service of these “giants of the seas” is a major, critically important factor for the Group and its future," CMA CGM said in a statement.

"These very large ships will enable the Group to enhance its business model and improve its competitiveness," the company added.