China’s Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry (XSI) has started building one LNG-powered pure car and truck carrier for BoComm Leasing and a joint venture led by Cosco Shipping.
XSI said in a statement it held on September 23 a steel-cutting ceremony for the LNG dual-fuel PCTC (XSI463H) with a capacity of 7,500 ceu.
According to the shipbuilder, this is the sixth LNG-powered PCTC in this series.
The vessel is 199.9 meters long, 38 meters wide, and has a total of 13 car decks.
XSI and Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding are both part of Fujian Shipbuilding Industry Group.
According to VesselsValue data, BoComm Leasing placed an order at the group for six LNG dual-fuel PCTCs back in April 2022.
The vessels, scheduled for delivery in 2025, each have a price tag of about $86 million and will serve a charter deal with Guangzhou Yuanhai Automobile Shipping, a JV formed by Cosco Shipping Specialized Carriers, Shanghai International Port Group Logistics (SIPGL), and SAIC Anji Logistics, the data shows.
Besides these vessels, Guangzhou Yuanhai Automobile Shipping joined forces with Japan’s Santoku Senpaku to order six more LNG-powered pure car and truck carriers in December last year.
Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding and XSI will build these dual-fuel LNG-powered PCTCs with a capacity of 7,500 units, XSI previously said.
Guangzhou Yuanhai Automobile Shipping said in March this year that its fleet will grow to 24 LNG-powered PCTCs after it placed an order for three more vessels with a capacity of 7,000 units at China’s Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI).
With the delivery of new capacity, the company plans to gradually expand its route coverage to Europe, South America, Red Sea, Mexico, Australia, and other regions, it said.