CMA CGM inks five-year innovation deal with CNES

Containership giant CMA CGM Group has signed a five-year agreement with the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) to identify, design and develop innovative solutions for the shipping, logistics and space industries.

As disclosed, the agreement will focus on a range of topics, covering smart ship routing, the maritime energy transition, upgrading of port activities and optimized logistics.

It will also explore maritime energy transition through a “sharing of experience” with hydrogen and practices for producing, storing, distributing, filling and using future green fuels.

What is more, the port operations will be upgraded by employing digital technologies to ease flows and cut the impact on the environment and contribute to the space sector by optimising logistics and developing a reliable and sustainable end-to-end service for the global tracking of goods.

The partners plan to reach these goals by working with start-up firms and subject matter experts (SMEs), supporting CMA CGM’s research and development (R&D) team, and investing in the two organizations’ business development units, ZEBOX, CMA CGM Venture, and Connect by CNES.

The focus areas were defined through CNES’ Connect, and the analysis has concentrated on seeking ways of exploiting space data and services to enhance mobility management in the maritime sector.

CMA CGM’s Chairman & CEO Rodolphe Saadé commented: “This … partnership will cement our innovation strategy, enabling us to benefit from technologies developed by CNES, be it to optimize our operations or to support our energy transition.”

The deal will also deepen collaboration with the satellite-based data service providers CLS and Kineis, which operate smart ship routing and space-based Internet of Things (IoT) solutions designed to meet the digital needs of shipowners.

Earlier this month, CMA CGM announced it will continue to invest in strengthening and upgrading its shipping and logistics assets while bolstering its financial structure.

The company closed the first quarter of this year with strong earnings growth, while the net income increased to $2.1 billion in Q1 2021 from $48 million seen in Q1 2020.