On November 8, Norwegian car carrier operator Wallenius Wilhelmsen announced that it has exercised an option to purchase two 11,700 CEU Shaper-class methanol dual-fuel pure car and track carriers (PCTCs) at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing), and upgraded two 9,300 CEU PCTCs to 11,700 CEU.
The two declared options are part of the four previously announced outstanding options. Delivery is expected in H2 2028. As part of the agreement, Wallenius Wilhelmsen will continue to hold options for two more vessels declarable by H2 2025.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen also intends to upsize two additional vessels from 9,300CEU to 11,700 CEU, bringing the total of upsized Shaper vessels to eight.
The cost of the two optional vessels and the upsizing of the two of the vessels on order, will be in line with the previous order of Shaper class vessels.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen and China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing) signed a contract back in October 2023 for the shipbuilding of 4+4+4 9,300 CEU methanol dual fuel PCTCs.
On February 27, 2024, Wallenius Wilhelmsen announced the entry into force of the first four option vessels, which are expected to be delivered between May and November 2027; on March 26, the two parties signed a new agreement for the construction of the four option orders; and on May 24, the subsequent signing of the four options entered into force, bringing the total number of the order to 12+4 9300 CEU PCTCs. On September 25th of this year, Wallenius Wilhelmsen announced the upgrade of the four 9300 CEU PCTCs built by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing) to 11,700 CEU.
Following today’s announcement, Wallenius Wilhelmsen will have a total of 14 Shaper class vessels on order, 8 x 11,700 CEU and 6 x 9,300 CEU vessels.
“With our sight set on a net-zero future for shipping, upsizing and expanding our Shaper class is a step in the right direction toward that goal,” Leroi adds.