French container line CMA CGM saw a 4% reduction in overall emissions last year compared to 2019.
CMA CGM said in its annual results the 4% reduction came on top of a 6% overall reduction in emissions from its fleet in 2019 compared to 2018.
Although overall emissions reduced by 4%, volumes carried by the also reduced by 2.7% last year. Container shipping declined 7% in the first half of 2020 due to Covid-10 lockdowns hitting demand and container lines across the board blanked large numbers of sailings in response, which would have helped reduce overall emissions.
However, in the second half of the year volumes bounced back sharply with CMA CGM seeing 6.3% volume growth in Q4 2020. Overall emission reductions outstripped the drop in volumes for 2020 as a whole.
The container line said it had reduced emissions per teu/km travelled by 49% in 2008, with a target of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030.
“This reduction is fully aligned with the group’s target of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 and increasing the share of alternative fuels consumed to 10% by 2023,” the company said.
In the short-to-medium term CMA CGM is investing in LNG-powered vessels and will have a fleet 32 containerships using LNG propulsion by the end of 2022.
Source: Seatrade Maritime
