Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ: CCEC) announced the formation of a joint venture with CMA CGM S.A. to build and operate a liquefied natural gas bunkering vessel. Each company will hold a 50% ownership stake in the joint venture.

The joint venture has signed a shipbuilding contract with Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. for construction of a 20,000 cubic meter dual-fuel LNG bunkering vessel at a contract price of $82.8 million. Delivery is scheduled for the third quarter of 2028.

The vessel will feature emissions reduction systems and dual-fuel power generation designed to meet environmental standards. The joint venture is expected to enter into a 12-year time charter with a joint venture formed between CMA CGM S.A. and TotalEnergies S.A., beginning upon vessel delivery.

"This joint venture marks CCEC's entry into LNG bunkering — a natural extension of our gas platform from carriage into marine fuel supply," said Jerry Kalogiratos, CEO of Capital Clean Energy Carriers.

Christine Cabau, Executive Vice President Operations and Assets of CMA CGM S.A., said the partnership aims to build a reliable LNG bunkering supply chain as part of industry decarbonization efforts.

Capital Clean Energy Carriers operates 17 vessels including 13 LNG carriers and has eight additional vessels under construction scheduled for delivery between the second quarter of 2026 and first quarter of 2029. This marks the company's first vessel dedicated to marine fuel supply.