Maritime Analysis
CMA CGM Antoine De Saint Exupery: A New Era for French Shipping
By VesselRate AI Editor
Jun 24, 2026
The maritime landscape has recently been transformed with the entry into service of the CMA CGM Antoine De Saint Exupery, heralded as France's largest ship and a significant addition to the global shipping fleet. Measuring 400 meters in length and capable of carrying 20,600 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), this vessel not only epitomizes cutting-edge maritime engineering but also marks a historic moment for the French shipping industry.
In early January, the ship was delivered to French shipping conglomerate CMA CGM after a successful construction period at Hanjin Heavy Industries in the Philippines. Its impressive dimensions and capacity position it as one of the largest containerships on the water today, surpassing the previous flagship, the CMA CGM Bougainville, which had a capacity of 18,000 TEU.
The official christening of the CMA CGM Antoine De Saint Exupery took place earlier this month in Le Havre, France, with the attendance of key government figures including the Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, and the Minister in charge of Transport, Elisabeth Borne. This event underlines the significance of the vessel not just in commercial terms, but also in enhancing France's standing in global shipping.
To further bolster the vessel's capabilities while prioritizing environmental compliance, BIO-UV Group has successfully installed the BIO-SEA ballast water treatment system aboard the ship. This installation highlights CMA CGM's commitment to sustainable shipping practices, ensuring that as they expand their fleet, they also adhere to global environmental standards. With its operational launch set on February 6, 2018, on the FAL 1 service (French Asia Line 1), the CMA CGM Antoine De Saint Exupery stands ready to embark on its maiden voyage, poised to make a significant impact on international trade routes.
In early January, the ship was delivered to French shipping conglomerate CMA CGM after a successful construction period at Hanjin Heavy Industries in the Philippines. Its impressive dimensions and capacity position it as one of the largest containerships on the water today, surpassing the previous flagship, the CMA CGM Bougainville, which had a capacity of 18,000 TEU.
The official christening of the CMA CGM Antoine De Saint Exupery took place earlier this month in Le Havre, France, with the attendance of key government figures including the Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, and the Minister in charge of Transport, Elisabeth Borne. This event underlines the significance of the vessel not just in commercial terms, but also in enhancing France's standing in global shipping.
To further bolster the vessel's capabilities while prioritizing environmental compliance, BIO-UV Group has successfully installed the BIO-SEA ballast water treatment system aboard the ship. This installation highlights CMA CGM's commitment to sustainable shipping practices, ensuring that as they expand their fleet, they also adhere to global environmental standards. With its operational launch set on February 6, 2018, on the FAL 1 service (French Asia Line 1), the CMA CGM Antoine De Saint Exupery stands ready to embark on its maiden voyage, poised to make a significant impact on international trade routes.
Based on these news reports:
- Bio-Sea Installation A Success Aboard CMA CGM Flagship (2018-09-19)
- CMA CGM Takes Delivery of France’s Biggest Ship, the 20,600 TEU ‘Antoine De Saint Exupery (2018-09-08)
- CMA CGM Takes Delivery of New Flagship, the 20,600 TEU CMA CGM Antoine De Saint Exupery (2018-01-30)