Vietnam’s First Electric Container Barge Signals a Green Shipping Revolution

How CMA CGM and NIKE Are Rewriting the Rules of Mekong Delta Logistics

In a bold move toward decarbonizing Southeast Asia’s supply chains, CMA CGM has unveiled Vietnam’s first fully electric container barge. The vessel, paired with a solar-powered charging station at Cai Mep port near Ho Chi Minh City, marks a watershed moment for river transport in a region where diesel-dependent barges have long dominated. The initiative, part of the French shipping giant’s $1.5 billion energy transition fund, could redefine how goods move through the Mekong Delta’s intricate waterways.

“This isn’t just about cleaner shipping—it’s about proving electrification works at scale in emerging markets,” says a CMA CGM spokesperson.

The project hinges on a joint venture called Green River Transportation, formed with Vietnamese logistics firm Gemadept. Their electric barge—designed by CMA CGM’s in-house CMA Ships and R&D teams—will tap into a 1 GWh solar farm at Gemalink terminal. That’s enough green electricity to power 200 Vietnamese households annually, all funneled into cutting 778 tons of CO₂ emissions per year on the 180km Binh Duong-Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu route.

NIKE Leads the Charge as Early Adopter

Sportswear giant NIKE has signed on as the inaugural partner, using the barge to shuttle materials between its Vietnam factories and Gemalink terminal. The collaboration reflects a growing trend: multinationals pressuring logistics providers to slash Scope 3 emissions. With Vietnam accounting for 30% of NIKE’s global footwear production, the switch could ripple across the apparel industry’s supply chains.

“Inland waterways are the invisible backbone of Asian manufacturing. Electrifying them is long overdue,” notes a Ho Chi Minh City-based supply chain analyst.

CMA CGM plans to scale the model beyond Vietnam, targeting regions like Bangladesh and Indonesia where inland waterway transport is critical. The electric barge, slated for operation by early 2026, features swappable battery modules—a design choice allowing future upgrades as battery tech evolves. While the upfront cost is 40% higher than diesel barges, operators expect 60% lower lifetime maintenance costs.

As global shipping faces mounting pressure to hit net-zero targets, this Mekong Delta experiment could offer a blueprint: marrying localized renewable energy with hard-to-abate transport sectors. The question isn’t just whether the barge succeeds, but how fast competitors will follow.