Wärtsilä to Supply 36 Dual-Fuel Engines for CMA CGM LNG Ships

Engine Order Covers 12 Newbuilds

According to a report by Marine Insight, technology group Wärtsilä will supply 36 Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engines for 12 new 18,000 TEU container vessels being built for French operator CMA CGM at Jiangnan Shipyard in China. Each vessel will receive three of the dual-fuel engines, and the ships are designed to run on LNG as part of CMA CGM’s push toward lower-emission deep-sea container operations.

The engines will be delivered through CWEC (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Wärtsilä’s joint venture company in China. Wärtsilä booked the full 12-vessel engine order in the first quarter of 2026. Related orders for seals and bearings were split across two phases: the first four vessels were booked in Q1 2026, with the remaining eight booked in Q2 2026.

Built on an Established Track Record

CMA CGM already operates more than 160 Wärtsilä 34DF engines across its fleet, a history the companies say informed the decision to select the platform again for this newbuild series. Xavier Leclercq, Vice-President, Newbuilding at CMA CGM, said the operator has had a positive experience with the engine, citing its reliability and emissions performance as consistent with the company’s long-term environmental goals.

Stefan Nysjö, Vice President, Power Supply at Wärtsilä Marine, said customers are increasingly looking for solutions combining high fuel efficiency with reduced emissions through alternative fuels such as LNG, and described the 34DF as a proven platform backed by extensive fleet experience.

Scope Beyond the Engines

Alongside the 36 engines, Wärtsilä will also supply seals and bearings for the vessels, including its Airguard seal system, intended to provide pollution-free tightness, along with oil-lubricated stern tube assemblies and line shaft bearings. This equipment is scheduled for delivery to the shipyard starting in 2027.

The order reflects continued reliance on LNG as a transitional fuel option for large container vessels, supported by what Wärtsilä describes as a mature global bunkering network. As emissions regulations tighten and fuel costs rise, the companies note that engine efficiency is becoming a key lever for operators managing both compliance and lifecycle costs on new tonnage.