Norwegian car carrier operator Wallenius Wilhelmsen has announced that four of the twelve Shaper Class vessels currently on order with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Jiangsu) will be increased in size from 9,300 to approximately 11,700 CEUs. The vessels will be the largest PCTCs ever to sail and will play an important role in reducing the cost of the company’s net-zero end-to-end ambition.
The first Shaper Class vessels will start being delivered from the second half of 2026, with the new upsized versions due for delivery beginning late 2027
The four upsized vessels share many of the integral design features of the Shaper Class such as a dual fuel engine, methanol capable from delivery, improved ramp strength, significant high and heavy capacity and an extensive focus on energy efficiency, safety and crew welfare.
“Specifically designed for our needs and trading patterns, prepared for net-zero from day one, and purpose built with significant economies of scale, we believe the new upsized Shaper vessels are a class apart. Providing significant savings on fuel and emissions in comparison to the current fleet and with both unparalleled capacity and the highest ramp strength in the order book, these vessels are truly fit for the future” says Xavier Leroi, EVP & COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen.
The vessels will be the ocean element of the integrated net-zero service Wallenius Wilhelmsen will offer customers from 2027. This end-to-end offering will include all stages of finished vehicles’ transport from the factory to the end consumer. The company plans to utilize its considerable land-based logistics and transport network to make this a reality.
It is reported that the two parties formally signed the shipbuilding contract for the first batch of 4+8 9,350 CEU Methanol Dual Fuel PCTCs on October 24, 2023, and the first batch of 4 new shipbuildigs is scheduled to be delivered starting from the second half of 2026. On February 27, 2024, Wallenius Wilhelmsen posted on its official website that it has exercised an option on four 9,350 CEU methanol dual-fuel PCTCs, expected to be delivered between May and November 2027, to China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Jiangsu).