On March 20, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), named the first 8,600 CEU LNG dual-fuel powered PCTC (pure car and track carrier) in the series for CITIC Financial Leasing. And the new vessel was named “Wenjingkou”.
The vessel is independently developed and designed by Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute (SDARI) under CSSC, with an overall length of 199.9 meters, a beam of 38 meters, a speed of 19 knots, and is classed by DNV and China Classification Society (CCS).
The vessel is equipped with 14 vehicle decks, which can conveniently and efficiently load and unload all kinds of vehicles, as well as super-high and super-heavy ro-ro cargoes, etc. Meanwhile, it is also capable of loading all kinds of new energy automobiles, and suitable for loading a variety of packaged hazardous cargoes and containers.
In terms of hydrodynamic performance, the vessel’s propulsion performance has been optimized. The power system adopts LNG dual-fuel low-speed main engine, equipped with high-pressure LNG gas supply system and C-type fuel storage tanks. And the reasonable equipment configuration makes the greenhouse gas emission reduced significantly, and the vessel’s Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) is much lower than the requirement of the third phase.
It is worth mentioning that this ship type is a representative PCTC upgrade product tailored for users in China’s automobile shipping industry. Its design and equipment selection fully consider the needs of environmental protection, energy saving, crew health and safety, and it has the characteristics of strong cargo capacity, large loading flexibility, high emission cleanliness, good operational flexibility and good economic benefits.
It is reported that “Wenjingkou” is the largest PCTC built by SWS, and up to now, SWS has delivered 7 new vessels this year.
The “Wenjingkou” will be operated by Guangzhou Yuanhai Automobile Shipping, a subsidiary of COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers. Its maiden operating voyage will be put into the European liner route, and it is planned to carry more than 5,700 sets of commercial vehicles and engineering vehicles from Shanghai, China to major European ports such as Bristol, UK, Zeebrugge, Belgium and Bremerhaven, Germany, which will effectively alleviate the demand for robust capacity on the European route.