Maritime Administration celebrates historic reflagging of CMA CGM Phoenix as largest U.S.-flagged commercial container vessel

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) celebrates the historic reflagging of CMA CGM Phoenix as the largest U.S.-flagged commercial container ship, which advances President Trump’s Executive Order on Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance. The in-port flag change ceremony took place at the Port of Charleston, with the Acting Administrator of MARAD Sang Yi attending and delivering remarks.

“Adding the CMA CGM Phoenix into the U.S.-flagged fleet is a powerful move toward reclaiming America’s maritime strength,” said Acting Administrator of the Maritime Administration Sang Yi. “This is about more than ships; it’s also about jobs, trade, and economic strength and national security for Americans. By partnering with innovative companies, we’re reinforcing American competitiveness and protecting the future of global commerce.”

Launched in 2013, the CMA CGM Phoenix is a Neo-Panamax container ship measuring approximately 1,079 feet long and 151 feet wide, with a gross tonnage of 110,000 GT and a summer deadweight capacity of about 130,000 tons. This will be the 11th U.S. flag vessel in CMA CGM service. CMA CGM has committed to tripling that number by 2029, as part of a broader $20 billion investment in U.S. maritime, logistics, and port infrastructure.