A battery-powered barge has started moving containers between an inland hub and a deep-sea port in southern Vietnam. CMA CGM, Nike and Gemadept say it is a new, fully electric inland waterway service built to help cut emissions in Nike's supply chain.
The route
The barge links Nike's inland drop-off location in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Binh Duong province) with Gemalink, Gemadept's deep-sea terminal in Cai Mep. CMA CGM puts the round trip at 180 km. It says the barge is designed to carry more than 50,000 TEU a year as an alternative to moving those boxes by road.
Batteries and power
- CATL batteries: Container News reports the vessel was developed by CMA CGM's New Build and Research and Development teams and uses battery technology from CATL.
- Four-hour charge: It can be recharged in about four hours, according to Container News.
- Solar supply: The barge charges on certified renewable electricity, including from a dedicated solar farm at Gemalink, CMA CGM says.
- Emissions: The partners expect it to avoid about 778 tonnes of CO₂ a year, with no direct greenhouse gas emissions while it operates.
The companies have not published the barge's per-trip container capacity or its battery size.