Wallenius Wilhelmsen has signed contracts with Jinling Shipyard (Jiangsu) for four dual-fuel pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) and secured options for up to eight more. The new vessels will add capacity and operational flexibility to the company’s global Ro-Ro network as it prepares for longer-term demand, Wallenius Wilhelmsen said.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen said the order follows a private placement announced earlier in October, through which it raised the Norwegian krone equivalent of US$300m by issuing 17.145 million shares at NOK 168 each. The proceeds will be used fund the expansion of its newbuilding programme. The latest order builds on the company’s ongoing Shaper Class fleet renewal programme launched in 2023 and is aimed at supporting future growth and evolving customer requirements.
“We continue to see attractive opportunities in the segments we serve and want to ensure we have the capacity, flexibility and efficiency needed to support our customers well into the next decades,” says Xavier Leroi, Chief Operating Officer Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen.
“Expanding our newbuilding program with deliveries from 2030 reflects our confidence in the long-term fundamentals of the market. We are investing now to ensure we can continue to grow with our customers while further developing our leading position in deep-sea RoRo.”
The company said the new PCTCs will be purpose-built for Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s trading patterns, featuring Shaper Class design, which combines hoistable decks, strong ramps and adaptable cargo spaces to accommodate a broad range of cargo. The vessels will have 9,900 CEU capacity and dual-fuel LNG engines.
“Its future-ready design also supports Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s ambition to make lower-carbon transportation increasingly available and affordable for customers,” the company said.
The four firm vessels will be delivered from mid-2030, with options for four additional vessels in 2031 and a further four in 2032. Assuming all options are exercised, the total capex is expected to be around US$ 1.5 billion.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s fleet renewal program now totals 26 vessels, including options.