Four Options Added to Car Carrier Series by Wallenius Wilhelmsen

Norwegian automobile shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen has expanded its order for environmentally friendly ships with an additional four vessels capable of using methanol as fuel and designed to be easily converted for ammonia use, from a shipyard in China.

This expansion involves securing options for four additional ships, each with a capacity of 9,300 car equivalent units (CEU), from the China Merchants Jinling Shipyard. This addition supplements the company's existing agreement, which already includes options for four vessels and firm orders for eight others at the same facility.

With a fleet of approximately 125 vessels, Wallenius Wilhelmsen has indicated that these newly added options come with earlier delivery dates than those previously secured. However, the company has clarified that this does not signify an expansion of their current shipbuilding agenda.

The newly ordered ships, classified as the Shaper Class, are expected to commence delivery by the middle of 2026. These vessels are designed to operate on methanol and can be adapted for ammonia usage as soon as such fuel becomes commercially viable.