'The FIGARO and other large vessels in our fleet are critical strategic assets in the supply chains of our customers, particularly now as Asia-U.S. trade continues to grow and capacity remains constrained due to the recent economic downturn. Thanks to its size and equipment, this vessel will meet growing customer demand and ensure cost-savings due to economies of scale, while meeting our Group's environmental goals,' said Jean-Philippe Thenoz, Senior Vice President North American Lines, CMA CGM Group.
The CMA CGM FIGARO, like all new vessels of this type ordered by the CMA CGM Group, is equipped with a combination of innovative environmental features, including:
- a new Fast Oil Recovery System that would significantly limit environmental impact should there be an incident at sea;
- an electronically controlled engine, reducing oil and fuel consumption by 25% and 3%, respectively, while allowing the vessel to operate at super eco-speed of 14 to 15 knots;
- pre-equipment to connect to on-shore electric power during dock-side operations.
'CMA CGM is to be congratulated for the state-of-the art environmental technologies being used aboard the FIGARO and many other CMA CGM vessels,' said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D. 'It's this kind of forward-thinking by our shipping partners that allows the Port to continue to grow responsibly.'
The CMA CGM FIGARO, as all the other vessels of the CMA CGM Group calling Los Angeles and Long Beach, follows the Green Flag Program initiative by reducing speed to 12 knots within 40 miles of the harbor entrance. For several years in a row, CMA CGM has been awarded the 'Green Flag Environmental Achievement Award' for its full compliance to the program.
