Ocean carrier CMA CGM has finalized shipbuilding contracts in India for six LNG-powered container ships, marking the first time a major carrier has ordered LNG vessels from an Indian shipyard. 

According to a release from the company, the agreement was signed with Cochin Shipyard Limited for six 1,700 twenty-foot equivalent unit LNG ships, with deliveries scheduled to take place between 2029 and 2031. CMA CGM will also launch a dedicated research and development hub in India, as the carrier looks to grow its global presence and make new inroads in the country.

For CMA CGM, the order not only adds to its growing fleet of alternative-fuel vessels, but also strengthens commercial ties in one of the world’s fastest-growing shipbuilding markets. India has been pushing to position itself as a competitive destination through policy incentives and infrastructure upgrades, and landing an order from a top-tier global carrier moves them a step closer to achieving that status.

CMA CGM currently employs an estimated 17,000 workers in India, and operates 19 weekly services between Indian ports and global markets. The company also recruited 1,000 Indian seafarers through its CMA SHIPS program in 2025, and plans to bring on 1,500 by the end of 2026.

"This milestone reflects the trust we place in India’s industrial and technological capabilities and supports Prime Minister Modi’s ambition to make India a global shipbuilding power," CMA CGM CEO Rodolphe Saadé said when the company first signed a letter of intent for the six LNG-powered vessels in October of last year.