Global shipping company CMA CGM has unveiled plans to deploy Vietnam’s first all-electric container barge, aimed at reducing emissions in inland water transport. The vessel is expected to begin operations in early 2026 and will serve the 180-kilometre route between Binh Duong Province and Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu, a key trade corridor in southern Vietnam.
Features of electric container barge
To power the barge, a solar-powered charging station has been constructed at Cai Mep Port, near Ho Chi Minh City, which is the country’s main gateway for container traffic. This station will draw electricity from a new solar energy system installed at the Gemalink terminal, capable of generating up to 1 gigawatt-hour (GWh) of renewable electricity per year.
In partnership with Gemadept, a major Vietnamese port and logistics operator, CMA CGM has formed a joint venture called Green River Transportation. This new entity will manage and operate river freight services across the Mekong Delta, using clean energy to move containers more sustainably.
As part of this green logistics push, Nike has signed on as the first commercial user of the electric barge. The footwear and apparel giant will incorporate the service into its supply chain, linking manufacturing sites in Vietnam with international export facilities at the Gemalink container terminal.
CMA CGM emphasized that this new zero-emission service could serve as a model for similar initiatives in other countries, particularly where inland waterways are crucial for cargo movement. The project aligns with the company’s broader environmental objective of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, through the adoption of clean technologies, alternative fuels, and emission-free transport solutions.