Tanger Med Port welcomed the CMA CGM NOTRE DAME on Monday, one of the world’s largest LNG-powered container ships, as it docked at the TC2 container terminal, further reinforcing the Moroccan port’s position as a strategic hub in global shipping networks.
Commissioned in May 2026, the vessel operates the French Asia Line 3 (FAL 3) service linking Europe and Asia via France and will make regular calls at Tanger Med, which serves as a key strategic partner for the CMA CGM Group and stands as the largest container port in the Mediterranean and Africa.
The ship has a carrying capacity of 24,212 TEUs and was officially inaugurated at the Port of Le Havre before sailing to Rotterdam, Hamburg and Antwerp, eventually arriving at Tanger Med, where the TC2 terminal is operated by Eurogate.
Florian Goebel, Managing Director of CMA CGM Morocco, said the vessel’s arrival reflects the strength of the partnership between the shipping group and Tanger Med. He noted that, as one of the world’s largest container ships and the largest vessel flying the French flag, it embodies the company’s commitment to innovation and the decarbonisation of maritime transport.
Adil Aït Oualil, Director of Marine Operations at Tanger Med Port Authority, stated that the call demonstrates the port’s ability to accommodate the world’s largest vessels. In 2025 alone, Tanger Med handled nearly 17,000 ship calls, including around 1,300 vessels exceeding 290 metres in length, thanks to its advanced infrastructure, efficient pilotage services and ongoing digital transformation.
The ship’s captain, Marine-Caroline Guyot, praised the docking operation as exemplary and commended the port’s pilotage services for ensuring a safe and efficient arrival. The occasion was marked by an official plaque exchange ceremony between Tanger Med officials and representatives of CMA CGM.
The CMA CGM NOTRE DAME is the first vessel in a series of ten French-flagged ultra-large container ships powered by liquefied natural gas. It is also designed to operate in the future using biomethane and synthetic e-methane, supporting the group’s strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and deploy around 200 low-carbon container ships by 2031.