CMA CGM Group, in partnership with Nike and Gemadept, has launched Vietnam’s first fully electric barge for container transport at Gemalink deep-water port in the Cai Mep area. The barge will operate on a 180-mile round-trip route connecting Nike’s cargo consolidation facility in the former Binh Duong area, now part of Ho Chi Minh City, with Gemalink port. The service is expected to transport more than 50,000 TEU annually. Powered by CATL battery technology, the vessel takes approximately four hours to charge using a dedicated system at Gemalink, supplied with certified renewable electricity from the port’s solar power installation.
According to CMA CGM, the barge produces no direct greenhouse gas emissions during operation and is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 778 tonnes annually compared with conventional transport. The project integrates the vessel, charging infrastructure and renewable energy supply into a single solution. CMA CGM is responsible for vessel development, Gemadept for port infrastructure, and Nike for incorporating the service into its supply chain. The group said the model could be adapted for other customers and markets. CMA CGM operates 29 weekly shipping routes connecting seven Vietnamese ports to its international network and has set a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.