Recently, French shipping group CMA CGM held a flag-changing ceremony for its container ship “CMA CGM Phoenix” in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, officially reflagging the vessel to the U.S. flag. With a capacity of 9,300 TEUs, the ship has become the largest U.S.-flagged container vessel in history.
The “CMA CGM Phoenix” is a Neo-Panamax container ship previously registered in Singapore. According to the plan, after reflagging, it will join CMA CGM’s INDAMEX service, connecting trade between the U.S. East Coast and Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka. Additionally, the vessel will serve as a training platform for maritime talent, accommodating two cadets per voyage from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point and other state maritime academies to train future maritime officers.
Acting U.S. Maritime Administrator Sang Yi stated at the ceremony: “Bringing the ‘CMA CGM Phoenix’ into the U.S.-flagged fleet is a strong step toward reclaiming America’s maritime strength. This is not just about the ship itself but also about American jobs, trade, economic power, and national security.”
Adeline Franger Chouraqui, CEO of CMA CGM America, also emphasized: “We are proud to contribute to the future of America’s maritime strength. This milestone opens a new chapter in our long-term commitment to the U.S. By expanding the U.S.-flagged fleet, we will create new jobs, support American exports, and enhance the nation’s maritime capabilities in the years ahead.”
The reflagging is a key step in CMA CGM’s U.S. market strategy. The “CMA CGM Phoenix” is the first of four new U.S.-flagged vessels the company plans to introduce by 2025 and the 11th U.S.-flagged ship in its fleet. Under CMA CGM’s earlier commitment, the group aims to expand its U.S.-flagged fleet to 30 vessels by 2029, with this deployment achieving 20% of that goal. This expansion is part of CMA CGM’s $20 billion U.S. investment plan announced in March this year.
In maritime infrastructure, the group will enhance facilities at strategic ports such as New York, Los Angeles, Dutch Harbor, Houston, and Miami to improve operational efficiency, digital connectivity, and cargo security.
In air cargo, it will establish a major hub in Chicago, deploying five Boeing 777 freighters operated by U.S. pilots to strengthen time-sensitive cargo transport.
In innovation, CMA CGM plans to build a logistics R&D center in Boston, focusing on advanced robotics and automation solutions in collaboration with U.S. tech firms. It will also develop advanced warehousing and automotive logistics platforms nationwide to bolster domestic supply chain security.
As the world’s second-largest shipping company, CMA CGM operates across five continents, with the U.S. market contributing a quarter of its total revenue.
According to earlier reports, CMA CGM is also in talks with U.S. shipbuilders to construct 6,000-TEU container ships domestically. The Trump administration has pledged tax incentives to support this. However, the U.S. shipbuilding industry faces challenges, including “hollowing out”—currently accounting for just 0.1% of global new orders, with construction costs 2-3 times higher than international rates and severe crew shortages.
To address these challenges, CMA CGM Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé has engaged with the Trump administration to seek policy and industry solutions, proposing collaboration between its Tangram training center and U.S. institutions to advance local crew training programs.
