Cma Cgm announced on 15 October 2025 that it has signed a letter of intent with Cochin Shipyard Limited for the construction of six LNG-fuelled containerships, making it the first major international carrier to place such an order in India. Each vessel will have a capacity of 1,700 TEU, will sail under the Indian flag and is scheduled for delivery between 2029 and 2031. The agreement marks an important milestone for India’s shipbuilding industry as it joins the global supply chain for advanced ship construction. The project, which also includes technical cooperation from South Korea’s Hd Hyundai Heavy Industries, aligns with the Indian government’s drive to expand the maritime and manufacturing sectors under the “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives.
According to chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé, Cma Cgm’s decision to build the new vessels in India reflects the company’s confidence in the country’s industrial and technological capabilities and supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of developing a globally competitive shipbuilding sector. The group, present in India for 34 years with around 17,000 employees, considers the country a strategic market and is expanding its footprint across the entire logistics chain, from port infrastructure to maritime training.
In 2025, Cma Cgm will reflag four ships under the Indian register and plans to hire around 1,000 local seafarers by the end of the year, with a further 500 recruits expected in 2026. These initiatives complement direct investments in the Nhava Sheva Freeport terminal near Mumbai and in Mundra, as well as the group’s global business services hub in Chennai, which coordinates operational and logistics functions supporting 160 agencies worldwide.
The project with Cochin Shipyard, India’s leading shipbuilder, forms part of the development roadmap set out in the “Maritime India Vision 2030” and “Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047”, aimed at positioning India as an international maritime hub. As noted by Cochin Shipyard chairman and managing director Madhu S. Nair, the partnership with Cma Cgm confirms the yard’s ability to deliver technologically advanced and sustainable solutions, supported by its collaboration with Korea’s Hd Ksoe group.
