CMA CGM has confirmed the signing of firm shipbuilding contracts for six gas-fuelled containerships at India’s Cochin Shipyard, following a letter of intent signed last October.
The contract was signed by CMA CGM Group chairman and chief executive Rodolphe Saadé during a high-level gathering in New Delhi as the French group grows its presence in India’s maritime sector.
The deal represents a strengthening of the shipbuilding co-operation with Cochin Shipyard specifically and, more generally, “the strategic partnership, which has linked CMA CGM and India for nearly four decades”, said Saadé, speaking at the signing ceremony.
All six of the 1,700 teu LNG dual-fuel feeder ships will sail under the Indian flag.
The order marks a big step forward for India’s ambitions to rank among the world’s top 10 shipbuilding nations by 2030.
For Cochin Shipyard, the country’s largest merchant shipbuilder, it is only the second move into boxship construction but by far the most high-profile.
The yard’s first containership order came in 2023, when Dutch carrier Samskip signed an order for two 500 teu hydrogen fuel cell-powered vessels. They are the first-ever boxships designed to run on green hydrogen.
To boost its capabilities, Cochin Shipyard has partnered with South Korean shipbuilding group HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, which is expected to provide detailed design for the new CMA CGM vessels.
The order adds to CMA CGM’s expanding footprint in India, spanning ports, terminals and logistics. The Marseille-based carrier has recruited 1,000 Indian seafarers and plans to increase that number to 1,500 by the end of 2026.
The company is also exploring partnerships to develop India’s container manufacturing base, advance sustainable ship recycling and strengthen domestic container shipping.
Last year, CMA CGM transferred three containerships to the Indian registry as part of the long-term commitment.
While Indian shipbuilding costs still exceed those in China and South Korea, government incentives are helping close the gap.
Subsidies under India’s Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy, which are particularly generous for alternative-fuel vessels, have made yards like Cochin increasingly competitive, especially as global shipowners seek to diversify away from China’s dominant market share.
CMA CGM is also eyeing newbuilding orders in US shipyards in an initiative first floated in March 2025. The move aligns with renewed American shipbuilding ambitions under president Donald Trump.
CMA CGM already maintains a significant US-flag presence through its ownership of APL. Although APL no longer operates US-built containerships, the group has pledged to sharply expand its US-flag fleet over the next four years.
