The story of the CMA CGM Jacques Saade
Named after CMA CGM's founder, the Jacques Saadé was a world first: no one had ever powered a 23,000 TEU megaship with LNG. Delivered in September 2020 as the lead ship of a nine-vessel class, it was the French carrier's bet that gas — with roughly 20% lower CO₂ emissions than heavy fuel oil, and near-zero sulphur — would be the transition fuel of container shipping. The bet reshaped the orderbook: LNG dual-fuel propulsion has since become common on new megaships, making the Jacques Saadé's emissions record an important real-world benchmark for the technology.
Frequently asked questions
What is special about the CMA CGM Jacques Saadé?
It was the world's first ultra-large container ship powered by LNG, cutting CO₂ emissions by roughly 20% compared with conventional heavy fuel oil propulsion.
Does LNG really reduce the ship's emissions?
Its verified MRV data lets you compare its CO₂ intensity against similar-sized conventional ships — the real-world test of LNG's benefit, including the methane slip debate.
Where does this emissions data come from?
All figures are official verified data reported under the EU MRV regulation and published by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).