French container line CMA CGM has joined a growing group of shipowners committed to finding a hydrogen-powered solution to decarbonise shipping.

The company has joined forces with Energy Observer, the first hydrogen-powered vessel to embark on a round-the-world voyage in an effort to speed up the development of sustainable shipping.

“Our partnership deals with the development of cleaner and more sustainable energies to eliminate CO2 emissions, greenhouse gases and air pollutants. It aims to experiment, test and develop energy solutions based on hydrogen, solar, tidal and wind power,” the company said in a statement.

The green hydrogen used by Energy Observer is made from seawater using onboard renewable sources of electricity, and the producing and burning hydrogen does not result in any greenhouse gas or fine particle emissions.

CMA CGM says it will contribute its industrial expertise to this floating lab to promote the use of hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel source for the shipping industry. It will also contribute its shipping and logistics expertise to Energy Observer.

Tanya Saadé Zeenny, executive officer of the CMA CGM Group, said: “CMA CGM is joining forces with Energy Observer to accelerate the development of tomorrow’s energy solutions, particularly hydrogen. Our partnership will mobilize all of CMA CGM’s know-how. Our teams of engineers and R&D experts are already working and our network around the world will be strongly mobilized to ensure the logistical support of Energy Observer’s worldwide ports of call.”

. @cmacgm and @energy_observer share the same common goal : zero emissions for the shipping industry. Convinced this good partnership will contribute to speeding up the use of #Hydrogen as one of the energy sources for tomorrow #energytransition https://t.co/Ll6kYL8zOR — Rodolphe Saade (@RodolpheSaade) February 10, 2020