French liner company CMA CGM has signed a letter of intent for up to nine 22,000-teu containerships with two Chinese shipyards that will be built either with dual-fuel propulsion or be ready to convert to use LNG — and it could herald a move to gas fuelling for large vessels.

Newbuilding sources say that if the dual-fuel option is selected, CSSC's Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) will take the lead on the project and build up to five of what looks set to become the world’s largest boxships.