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The first European stop of the CMA CGM Grand Palais at the Port of Marseille Fos this week highlighted the growing role of ultra large LNG powered container vessels in Mediterranean trade lanes.
The 23,876 TEU containership arrived at Fos sur Mer between 12 and 16 May after transiting the Suez Canal and making an initial Mediterranean call in Malta. The vessel berthed at the Eurofos container terminal, where port officials said the operation demonstrated Fos sur Mer’s ability to handle the largest vessels currently operating in global liner trades.
LNG Powered Vessel Enters Europe Service
Commissioned in March 2026, the Grand Palais measures 400 meters in length and 61.5 meters in width, placing it among the world’s largest container ships currently in operation. The vessel is powered by liquefied natural gas, reflecting the wider shift by major carriers toward lower emission propulsion systems.
For ports, accommodating ships of this scale is not simply about berth length. It also requires deep draft access, high capacity cranes, yard infrastructure, and synchronized hinterland connections. In many ways, handling a 24,000 TEU vessel resembles managing a floating logistics hub arriving on a fixed timetable.
Officials Attend Inaugural Ceremony
An inaugural plaque ceremony was held onboard during the vessel’s first Fos sur Mer call. Attendees included Jacques Witkowski, Prefect of the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region and Bouches du Rhône, Corinne Simon, Prefect Delegate to the Prefect of Police of Bouches du Rhône, Fos sur Mer Mayor Philippe Maurizot, Emmanuel Delran, Vice President of Operations Group at CMA CGM, and Hervé Martel, Chairman of the Management Board of Port de Marseille Fos.
The arrival comes as Mediterranean ports continue investing in infrastructure to compete for mainline Asia Europe container services. Larger vessels on these routes can reduce slot costs for carriers, but they also concentrate cargo volumes into fewer port calls, increasing pressure on terminal efficiency and inland transport networks.
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