CMA CGM launches first electric barge in Vietnam with Nike cargo commitment
Nike has agreed to use 90 per cent of the vessel’s capacity for eight years, supporting a project whose initial cost is roughly twice that of a diesel equivalent.
CMA CGM launched its first fully electric barge in Vietnam on Oct 29, 2026, with Nike committing to fill 90 per cent of its capacity under an eight-year agreement. The French shipping group is operating the vessel with Vietnamese port operator Gemadept.
The barge carries cargo between Nike’s inland drop-off point and the Gemalink deep-sea terminal in the Cai Mep port complex. Both locations fall within the expanded Ho Chi Minh City. The companies describe it as Vietnam’s first fully electric barge for inland container transport.
CMA CGM Asia Pacific chief executive Bo Wegener said the upfront investment was approximately double that required for a comparable diesel vessel. He said Nike’s commitment supported the project’s commercial viability, which also depends on charging facilities, renewable electricity costs and supply, and efficient operations.
According to the companies, the vessel uses certified renewable electricity supplied by a dedicated solar farm at Gemalink and produces no direct greenhouse gas emissions during its 180 km round trip. It is designed to carry more than 50,000 twenty-foot equivalent units annually and is expected to avoid approximately 778 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
Built in China to CMA CGM’s design, the barge uses CATL battery technology. Recharging takes approximately four hours, while battery swaps can take about 30 minutes during cargo handling. CMA CGM is considering similar deployments elsewhere, but has made no specific investment or scheduling commitments.
