On April 8, Guangzhou Shipbuilding International (GSI), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), started the construction of Vessel No. 1, a 7,000 ceu LNG dual-fuel pure car and track carrier (PCTC) for COSCO Shipping Car Carriers. It is also the 7th car carrier built by GSI for COSCO Shipping Car Carriers.
Designed by Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute (SDARI), the PCTC has an overall length of 199.9 meters, a beam of 38 meters, a depth of 14.8 meters, a design draft of 8.6 meters, a speed of 19 knots with 12 car decks, of which 4 decks are liftable decks. The PCTC is capable of carrying lithium battery cars, of which 2 decks are also capable of carrying hydrogen fueled cars and LNG fueled cars.
The PCTC adopts dual fuel power of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fuel oil, and the LNG capacity can meet the requirements of full voyage and meet the emission requirements of TIER III of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The PCTC can reduce sulfur, NOx and carbon emissions by 99%, 85% to 90% and 25% to 30% under regular voyage, port entry and exit, and cargo loading and unloading conditions compared to a conventional fuel-powered model PCTC.
At present, GSI has completed and delivered the first batch of 4 PCTCs in South China, and the number of car carriers under construction is more than 10.