Finnish naval architects Deltamarin has announced three separate design contracts for pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs), as the segment continues to experience unprecedented growth and demand for more sustainable newbuildings.
BYD Auto, China’s largest electric car manufacturer, has ordered 4 x 9,200 CEU PCTCs from China Merchants Industry that will be based on a Deltamarin concept design. Additionally Deltamarin will provide full and basic detail design for the vessels, which will be powered by LNG and cater specifically for BYD’s trade. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2025.
Meanwhile, Swiss operator Sallaum Lines has ordered 4+2 x 7,400 CEU vessels from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing). Deltamarin previously developed the concept design for these vessels, also powered by LNG, and will now develop basic and detail designs. Delivery is expected to commence in 2026.
China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) has signed a deal for 2+4 x 9,300 CEU methanol fuelled vessels to be built by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu). Again, Deltamarin will expand upon its earlier concept to deliver full basic and detail designs. The first CMES vessel will also be delivered in 2026.
In March, class society DNV noted the dramatic upswing in PCTC newbuilding orders as demand for electric vehicles grows. Market analysts Clarksons commented in May that charter rates for PCTCS has now reached US$110,000 a day, a six-fold increase on pre-pandemic levels. Coupled with this is consumer and manufacturer expectation for greener supply chains, with many older HFO-fuelled ships struggling to attain IMO’s tightening emission and efficiency standards.
