Technology group Wärtsilä has announced that it will supply methanol-fuelled auxiliary engines for French giant CMA CGM.

The engines have been bought for six 15,000 TEU containerships being built at China’s Dalian Shipbuilding yard.

Wärtsilä received the order in the second quarter of 2023.

The six containerships are the first CMA CGM vessels to be ordered using methanol fuel.

Methanol is said to be crucial to the company’s present decarbonisation aspirations since it emits less pollutants than diesel and can be generated from sustainable, renewable-based energy sources.

Xavier Leclercq, Vice-President of CMA SHIPS, said: “Our goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. By fitting our future fleet with methanol systems, we will be making a serious contribution towards achieving this target.

“For this reason, we require the experience and technological leadership that Wärtsilä provides in the development of reliable engines capable of operating with new, sustainable marine fuels.”

Roger Holm, President of Wärtsilä’s Marine Power Business, stated: “We have worked closely with CMA CGM for many years, with both our companies sharing a commitment to decarbonising marine operations.

“We are, therefore, honoured to have been selected to supply the methanol-fuelled engines for these newbuild vessels.

“We look forward to continuing to collaborate with CMA CGM on creating more responsible, more efficient, and more sustainable transportation solutions for the industry.”

The entire Wärtsilä scope for each vessel includes three six-cylinder and one seven-cylinder Wärtsilä 32M engines with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems.

The equipment will be supplied beginning in late 2024, and the vessel will be delivered in autumn 2025.

In June 2023, Wärtsilä’s Automation, Navigation, and Control Systems (ANCS) and Swedish marine green tech company, Qtagg, announced a new innovative retrofit solution for Wärtsilä’s marine engine governor system.