CMA CGM Linked to Eight 6,000 TEU Newbuilds at China's Hengli Heavy Industries

French liner giant CMA CGM is linked to yet another containership newbuilding programme, this time at China's Hengli Heavy Industries, according to shipbroking sources cited by Splash247. The Marseille-based carrier is reported to have signed contracts for eight vessels of approximately 6,000 TEU capacity at the rapidly growing Chinese yard. If confirmed, the order would represent a further extension of what is already considered the largest orderbook in the container shipping industry — a position CMA CGM has built through an aggressive fleet expansion strategy spanning multiple vessel classes and shipyards across Asia. ## Hengli's Rising Profile The reported deal underscores the growing prominence of Hengli Heavy Industries as a destination for major liner orders. The yard has been rapidly scaling its capabilities and securing contracts from top-tier shipping groups, positioning itself as a serious competitor to more established Chinese and South Korean shipbuilders. ## CMA CGM's Orderbook Ambitions CMA CGM's continued ordering activity reflects the broader strategic posture of the world's third-largest container line, which has pursued fleet growth and diversification — including investments in LNG-powered vessels and logistics infrastructure — under the leadership of chairman Rodolphe Saadé. The 6,000 TEU segment is a versatile size class well-suited to secondary trade lanes and feeder-to-mainline operations, suggesting CMA CGM may be targeting network flexibility as much as raw capacity growth with this latest series. Full details of the contract, including delivery schedules and propulsion specifications, have not yet been officially confirmed by CMA CGM. The company had not issued a public statement at the time of reporting. *Source: Splash247*