Nike has partnered with CMA CGM and Gemadept to launch its first fully electric barge service between Ho Chi Minh City and Cai Mep Port in Vietnam. (Photo: Nike)
Nike, French shipping group CMA CGM and Vietnamese port operator Gemadept have launched a fully electric inland barge service in Vietnam, aiming to reduce emissions from cargo transportation between Ho Chi Minh City and the Cai Mep port area.
The barge operates on a 180-kilometer round trip between Nike's inland drop-off location in Ho Chi Minh City and Gemadept's Gemalink deep-sea terminal in Cai Mep. The service is expected to avoid approximately 778 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.
Electric barge integrates solar-powered charging
The electric barge is designed to transport more than 50,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually, providing a lower-carbon alternative for inland cargo transportation.
Developed by CMA CGM's New Build and R&D teams, the barge uses battery technology supplied by Chinese battery manufacturer CATL. Its batteries can be recharged in approximately four hours using certified renewable electricity.
The project combines the electric barge with dedicated charging infrastructure at Gemalink, supported by a solar farm developed at the terminal. The barge produces no direct greenhouse gas emissions during operation.
CMA CGM said the project could serve as a model for similar electric inland waterway transportation services in other markets and supply chains.
Christine Cabau, Executive Vice President of Assets and Operations at CMA CGM, said the company aims to expand the use of lower-carbon inland transportation solutions through cooperation with shipping customers and terminal operators.
Cimarron Nix, Chief Sustainability Officer at Nike, said reducing supply chain emissions requires cooperation among companies and logistics providers.
"Reducing emissions across a global supply chain takes more than any one company. It takes new ideas, strong partnerships and a willingness to rethink how we operate," Nix said.
Gemadept Deputy Chief Executive Officer Do Cong Khanh, who also serves as Chairman of Gemalink Deep-Sea Port, said the project demonstrates how electric transportation, charging infrastructure and renewable energy can be integrated into port logistics operations.
Nike reports 56% reduction in transport emissions
The electric barge project forms part of Nike's broader efforts to reduce emissions across its global supply chain, with transportation identified as one of four priority areas alongside materials, manufacturing and company operations.
Nike has also been reducing its reliance on air freight, expanding the use of lower-carbon maritime fuels and increasing electric vehicle adoption in its logistics operations.
According to Nike, emissions from inbound and outbound transportation fell by 56% in fiscal year 2025 compared with fiscal year 2020.
The company has set a science-based target to reduce emissions across its extended supply chain by 35% by 2030, using fiscal year 2020 as the baseline.
The three companies said the Vietnam electric barge project could potentially be replicated in other markets, although no specific expansion plans or timelines were disclosed.
