Norway’s P. D. Gram & Co., led by Peter D. Gram, is looking to order two LNG-powered pure car and truck carriers in China, according to shipbuilding sources.
Sources tell LNG Prime the firm is expected to place the order “soon” at China’s Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS), a unit of CSSC.
The vessels would have a capacity to carry about 8,600 units, making them one of the largest LNG-powered car carriers in the world, the sources said.
Also, China’s Shanghai Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI) would design the new ships, they said.
The sources did not reveal any information on the price and delivery date.
LNG Prime contacted P. D. Gram to comment on the matter, but we did not receive a reply by the time this article was published.
P. D. Gram started with car carrier operations some 30 years ago. The firm performs business management services for the Gram family holding companies, including Gram Car Carriers.
The owners of P. D. Gram control 20 percent of the Singapore-based OSM Group as well, according to the company’s website.
The Norwegian firm currently does not have LNG-powered PCTCs in its fleet, the data shows.
Shipowners have this year placed several orders for the construction of LNG-powered car carriers as they look to comply with more stringent IMO rules and slash emissions.
The owners include Eastern Pacific Shipping, NYK Line, SFL, MOL, Wallenius, as well as SAIC Anji.
Most of these LNG-powered car carriers will have a capacity of about 7,000 units.