Greener Shipping!

Yesterday, Sunday morning, 6 April, at 8.30 am, CMA CGM Baalbeck, an 8,000 TEU dual-fuel LNG-powered container ship, arrived in Fremantle accompanied by three tugs, not to mention a Fremantle Pilots’ boat.

She’s a shiny new ship, built earlier this year and sails under the flag of France. CMA CGM Baalbeck is 272 metres long and 43 metres wide.

Fremantle is her final Australian port to visit during her maiden visit to Australia. Last port of call was Adelaide.

As part of the AAX-S service, she connects Southeast Asia to Australia, calling at major ports along the way. Her present journey began in Port Klang, Malaysia, followed by stops in Tanjung Pelepas and Singapore, before heading south to Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide. And now Freo.

The Baalbeck is the very first LNG-powered container vessel to visit Australia, marking a significant step towards sustainable shipping. Powered by LNG – Liquefied Natural Gas – she delivers up to 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and is ready for biomethane and e-methane, reinforcing the industry’s commitment to decarbonisation and reach net zero by 2050.

FYI, Baalbeck is an ancient city in Lebanon, built by the Phoenicians and later added to by the Romans. It’s home to the largest Roman Temple ever built.

A huge crowd gathered on South Mole to witness her arrival. She’s berthed at Patrick Terminal until her departure late tonight, Monday evening when she returns to Port Klang.

* Words and photographs by Jean Hudson our Shipping Correspondent. Jean is also a regular feature writer and photographer here on the Shipping News. You may also like to follow up her informative Places I Love stories, as well as other feature stories and Freo Today photographs, right here. Photographs by Michael Barker.

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