As a leading enterprise in building ro-ro vessels in China, China Merchants Jinling Shipyard has again won the favor of its regular customers and won an optional order for four 9,350 ceu methanol dual-fuel Pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs).
Norwegian car carrier operator Wallenius Wilhelmsen has secured options with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard for four 9,350 ceu methanol dual-fuel PCTCs, increasing its order size with the shipyard to 16 (4+8+4), according to foreign media reports. The company said that the four additional PCTCs on order have earlier delivery schedules than the previously held optional PCTCs, but also noted that this new optional order does not necessarily represent an increase in the target for the current newbuilding program.
It is understood that the first batch of 4+8 9,350 ceu methanol dual-fuel PCTCs were signed in August 2023 with a letter of intent to build and a shipbuilding contract was formally signed on October 24 of the same year, with an undisclosed value of the order, and the first batch of 4 new PTCTs is scheduled to begin delivery in the second half of 2026.
On February 27, 2024, Wallenius Wilhelmsen posted on its official website that it has exercised an option for four 9,350 ceu methanol dual-fuel PCTCs with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard, which are expected to be delivered between May and November 2027. Until now, Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s active methanol dual-fuel PCTC orders and options with the Shipyard are 8 PCTCs.
This series of PCTCs is developed by Wallenius Wilhelmsen in cooperation with Deltamarin, a Finnish ship design company, and is named “Shaper” class. At the end of last year, Deltamarin has signed a general contract with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard for the design of the first batch of 4+8 newbuildings, for which Deltamarin will provide complete basic design and detailed design services for this series of PCTCs. Previously, Deltamarin has completed the conceptual and contractual design of this newbuilding type.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen believes that methanol is the fastest way to net-zero emissions, and the range of PCTCs are all available with methanol fuel, and in the future can be retrofitted to use ammonia fuel, symbolizing Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s transformation and upgrading.
So far this year, Wallenius Wilhelmsen has signed transportation contracts of around $1.5 billion this year. As the world’s largest ro-ro ship operator, Wallenius Wilhelmsen has a fleet of 125 to 135 vessels serving 15 trade routes to six continents, a global inland distribution network, 66 processing centers and eight marine terminals. The company is working with its customers to reduce emissions through biofuels, and this series of PCTCs will accelerate the company’s progress towards net-zero emissions, helping to achieve the 2027 net-zero emissions target.
