French boxship giant CMA CGM says its fleet of 500 ships will not use the Northern Sea Route (NSR) through the Arctic on environmental grounds.
It called the decision a "forward-looking, socially responsible choice to protect the biodiversity of both the Arctic region and the entire planet".
CEO Rodolphe Saade will confirm the move at the Elysee Palace on Friday afternoon after he and other shipping representatives were invited there by French President Emmanuel Macron, ahead of the G7 summit.
He will also say that the company will give priority to LNG to power its future ships.
"The CMA CGM Group thus reasserts its role within the maritime transport industry as a leader in protecting the environment," it said.
The NSR is a much shorter route between Asia and Europe and transits have been increasing as ice melts due to global warming.
CMA CGM said the region along the Siberian coast is "rich in its unique and largely unexplored biodiversity", helping the Arctic play an essential role in regulating ocean currents and global climate patterns.
Accident risk
It added that using the route represents a significant danger to the unique natural ecosystems of this part of the world, mainly due to the numerous threats posed by accidents, oil pollution or collisions with marine wildlife.
Rival Maersk Line has been looking to team up with Russian nuclear agency Atomflot to send cargoes along the NSR, but has no current plans to send its own ships there.
The route is important for Arctic LNG shipments, involving owners like Sovcomflot, Dynagas and MOL.
Alternatives explored
The first of CMA CGM's fleet of nine LNG-fuelled 23,000-teu boxships will be delivered in 2020.
By 2022, the group will have 20 LNG-powered vessels in its fleet.
CMA CGM was also the world’s first line to successfully test a biofuel oil made with 20% recycled vegetable oils and forest residues.
In addition, it is establishing research partnerships to develop hydrogen as a potential long-term energy solution.
During the Friday meeting, Saade will deliver to Macron the SAILS (also known as Sustainable Actions for Innovative and Low-impact Shipping) Charter.
New eco-commitments
Through this, 10 French shipowning signatories have committed to implementing specific actions to cut emissions.
Saade said: “We make these choices to meet the needs of our employees and our customers, who are increasingly concerned about the environment.
"But above all, we make these decisions for the future, to leave our children a cleaner planet. These are brave, bold choices, which go far beyond purely business decisions. This is a firm belief for us, born out of our family ethos and our strong human values, to make responsible, forward-looking choices."
He added: "That is how we plan to build fairer, more environmentally friendly trade, and I invite the entire industry — competitors, partners and customers — to join us.”
