diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 4ec91ec3b00fb9eb993da33a7169a41d213d1ba6..04b95924512667a6f28f205f0548df2d1bb1e5be 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@ FileLicenceCheck:
     SIMPATH: "$BASE_PATH/fairsoft_$FAIRSOFT_VERSION/installation"
     FAIRROOTPATH: "$BASE_PATH/fairroot_${FAIRROOT_VERSION}-fairsoft_${FAIRSOFT_VERSION}"
 
+
 .singularity_tag: &singularity_tag
   stage: build
   tags:
@@ -261,6 +262,20 @@ FileLicenceCheck:
     INSTALL_PROJECT: "TRUE"
     EXTRA_FLAGS: '"-DCBM_TEST_INSTALL=TRUE"'
 
+.apptainer_tag: &apptainer_tag
+  stage: build
+  tags:
+    - CbmRoot_apptainer
+
+.apptainer_debian12_variables_nov22p1: &apptainer_debian12_variables_nov22p1
+    CONTAINER: "/cvmfs/cbm.gsi.de/containers/debian12_v18.8.0_nov22p1.sif"
+    OS: debian12
+    FAIRSOFT_VERSION: nov22p1
+    FAIRROOT_VERSION: v18.8.0
+    BASE_PATH: "/opt"
+    SIMPATH: "$BASE_PATH/fairsoft/$FAIRSOFT_VERSION"
+    FAIRROOTPATH: "$BASE_PATH/fairroot/${FAIRROOT_VERSION}_${FAIRSOFT_VERSION}"
+
 .linux_tag: &linux_tag
   stage: build
   tags:
@@ -370,6 +385,11 @@ CbmRoot_Merge_realData:
   variables:
     <<: [*mergeRequestVariables, *realData_variables]
 
+CbmRoot_Merge_Apptainer_debian12_nov22p1:
+  <<: [*apptainer_tag, *check_merge_request, *build_and_test]
+  variables:
+    <<: [*mergeRequestVariables, *apptainer_debian12_variables_nov22p1]
+
 CbmRoot_Merge_Singularity_debian10_apr21:
   <<: [*singularity_tag, *check_merge_request, *build_and_test]
   variables: