CMA CGM has added the LNG-powered CMA CGM Grand Palais to its fleet, with the new-generation containership set to operate on the FAL3 service linking Asia and Europe.

The 23,000-teu vessel was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by Captain Liang Zhihua and the ship’s godmother, Xu Minhui, vice director of the Education Training Center of Shanghai Maritime University.

According to the company, the addition reinforces capacity on one of its key Asia–Europe trade routes. The FAL3 service connects major manufacturing hubs in Asia with consumer markets across Europe and forms part of CMA CGM’s core long-haul network.

As previously reported, in February, CMA CGM signed an agreement for the construction of six LNG-fuelled container vessels in India.

Other recent developments include the first delivery of biomethanol to a vessel in the French container shipping group's fleet.

The company has previously set a target of reaching net-zero carbon emissions across its operations by 2050.