Transport ... Shipping
Containership CMA CGM Kerguelen

Twelve Cranes Unload Mega Box Ship ... The 398-meter-long containership CMA CGM Kerguelen made its first call at the Port Klang Port Terminal in Malaysia

Burgess COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

Twelve Cranes Unload Mega Box Ship

Photo courtesy of CMA CGM Photo courtesy of CMA CGM

The 398-meter-long containership CMA CGM Kerguelen made its first call at the Port Klang Port Terminal in Malaysia, arriving to a very unique arrangement, the CMA CGM Group announced.

No less than 12 cranes were used simultaneously to match the vessel's exceptional length and capacity (17,722 TEU), setting a new record for CMA CGM.

Delivered in March, U.K.-flagged CMA CGM Kerguelen is the first of six new vessels of its type to enter the CMA CGM fleet in 2015.

Overall length: 398m
Overall Width: 54m
Draft: 16m
Reefer plugs: 1,254 plugs
Engine: MAN B&W 11S90ME-C9.2
Shipyard: Samsung Heavy Industries
Year of construction: 2015
Delivery date:march 2015
Vessel Type: cellular
Capacity: 17,722 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent)
Service: French Asia Line (FAL)
Owner / operator: CMA CGM
Flag: United Kingdom

The ship’s unique castle is located at the front of the vessel, maximizing the use of space while providing better visibility from the bridge and giving the ship more resistance to torsion, CMA CGM explained, adding that this layout also allows for the fuel tanks to be positioned under the castle. They are therefore protected by the ship’s double hull, which makes the vessel in compliance with the MARPOL 12A regulation. Found in the rear, the engine room is located near the propeller which limits the loss of place that could result from a propeller shaft crossing the ship.

CMA CGM Kerguelen is powered by the latest generation engine MAN B&W 11S90 ME – C9.2, developed specifically for the vessel, allowing a better energy efficiency by being better suited to slow steaming, and in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, CMA CGM noted. The engines are reported to reduce consumption of fuel by 3% on average and oil by 25%.

The ship is equipped with a ballast water treatment system that treats ballast water directly when it is pumped on board and again during ballasting operations through filtering and UV lamps. CMA CGM said it chose this type of system as there are no chemical products being rejected into the sea.