Car Carriers News

NYK, MTI, and Grid Co. have jointly developed an AI-based system that automates and optimizes the allocation plan of car carriers.Full-scale operations of the system were launched at NYK in July.NYK operates more than 100 car carriers, the largest fleet in the world. Historically, ship allocation planning has been an extremely complex and labor-intensive process, requiring the comprehensive evaluation of numerous conditions for hundreds of voyages several months in advance.To overcome these issues…

Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners, is sending ammonia demand signals to new fuel producers but doing it in a way that will enable the company to scale use of the fuel gradually.Enger explained how to Øyvind Sekkesæter in a DNV Maritime Impact podcast released late last week.Höegh Autoliners has a fleet of 37 vessels and more vessels under construction including a series of 12 Aurora class multi-fuel vessels anticipated to run on LNG and ammonia. The vessels have an ammonia-capable LNG fuel tank…

NYK has started the continuous use of bio-LNG fuel on its LNG-powered car carriers as part of its commitment to maritime decarbonization.The bio-LNG is supplied by Dutch firm Titan Supply at the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium. The first vessel to receive the fuel was Daisy Leader on June 15, and the second was Sumire Leader on July 18.Bio-LNG, also known as liquefied biomethane, is purified liquefied methane gas (biogas) produced from biomass feedstock, such as animal manure and food wastes.By capturing methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere…

The Suez Canal Automotive Terminal (SCAT), a joint venture among NYK, Africa Global Logistics (AGL) and Toyota Tsusho Corporation, has officially opened Egypt's first finished-vehicle logistics terminal.With an anticipated increase in finished-vehicle imports and the forthcoming initiation of full-scale exports, SCAT is strategically positioned to address this growing demand.The facility features a quay capable of accommodating two large car carriers simultaneously, as well as extensive storage space.In addition…

The car carrier Morning Midas sank on June 23 following the fire that broke out on board on June 3.The fire was no longer active, but the vessel sank while awaiting the arrival of a tug with long-distance towing capability.“Damage caused by the fire, compounded by heavy weather and subsequent water ingress, caused the Morning Midas to sink at around 16.35 local time zone (UTC -9) on 23 June, in waters approximately 5,000 meters deep and 360 nautical miles from land,” said ship manager Zodiac Maritime.The vessel reportedly had 350 metric tons of marine gas oil and 1…

A salvage team has arrived at the scene of the burning car carrier Morning Midas, located approximately 220 miles south of Adak, Alaska.The US Coast Guard received the initial report of the fire Tuesday, June 3, at approximately 3:15 p.m. and has been working closely with Zodiac Maritime, the vessel's manager, to respond to the incident.The tug vessel, Gretchen Dunlap, arrived on scene with salvage personnel Monday afternoon and has begun a full assessment of the conditions on…

The crew of a ship carrying around 3,000 vehicles, including 800 electric vehicles, abandoned it off the coast of Alaska after a fire broke out onboard, its operator Zodiac Maritime said on Wednesday.The 22 crew members were safely evacuated from the ship after they failed to put out the fire, Zodiac said as it focuses on salvaging the vessel.They were evacuated via lifeboat and were being transferred to a nearby merchant vessel Cosco Hellas in tandem with the U.S. Coast Guard.The vessel…

Wallenius Wilhelmsen has acquired the remaining shares in Armacup, bringing the shareholding percentage from 65 to 100%.Armacup is a New Zealand-headquartered shipping company that has pioneered the Japanese used car trade since the 1980s. Armacup has since then expanded its position in the Asia-Oceania trade, servicing leading and emerging OEMs in Japan, China and South Korea.Wallenius Wilhelmsen says the acquisition will further enhance the synergies between Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Armacup.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended that land-based firefighters be better prepared for marine vessel firefighting following a fatal fire on the roll-on/roll-off container vessel Grande Costa D’Avorio in Newark, New Jersey.The Grande Costa D’Avorio was docked at Port Newark on July 5, 2023, when a vehicle used by shoreside workers to push used vehicles onto the vessel caught fire on an interior garage deck. The ship’s captain ordered use of the vessel’s carbon dioxide extinguishing system…

Lighting company Glamox has won contracts to light four additional Aurora Class vessels, owned and operated by Höegh Autoliners.This latest order follows a contract in October 2022 to provide marine LED lighting for the first eight Aurora Class vessels.Each pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) is designed to carry 9,100 cars. These new multi-fuel vessels can operate on ammonia. They have specially strengthened decks and enhanced internal ramp systems to enable them to transport electric…

ClassNK has released guidance to assist in the safe evacuation of crew members from vehicle carriers in the event of a cargo hold fire. Additionally, the world’s first notation, AMEVC(EV), has been established to indicate vessels equipped with additional measures to facilitate safe evacuation.Vehicle carriers often have accommodation areas and life-saving equipment, such as lifeboats and liferafts, positioned above cargo holds, with ventilation ducts for the holds located close to the accommodation spaces.

Political winds blowing a raft of new tariffs and incoming supply uptick suggests a volatile 2025 Bearish sentiment crept into the car carrier market in June after the European Union (EU) announced increased import tariffs for Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) up to as much as 45.3%. The EU tariffs, which came into play in November for a period of five years and were increased following an investigation into Chinese state subsidies to domestic car manufacturers, are weighing…

Sallaum Lines has ordered six additional Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) vessels from China, two with Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Co Ltd. (2 x 7,500 RT SDARI design) and four with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing) Co. Ltd. (4 x 7,400 RT Deltamarin design). Each vessel has a capacity ranging from 7,400 to 7,500 Car Equivalent Unit (CEU) Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) design. By incorporating dual-fuel LNG technology, the newbuilds deliver a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by at least 25%In addition…

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has launched the Trans Harmony Emerald, the second of two LNG-powered roros under construction for Toyofuji Shipping.The ship's handover is scheduled for June 2025 following completion of outfitting work and sea trials. The Trans Harmony Emerald will then serve on shipping routes in Asia.The vessel is approximately 195 meters in overall length, approximately 30.6 meters in breadth, and has gross tonnage of approximately 49,500. It can transport about 3…

ClassNK granted its ‘AFVC(FD)(EV)’*1 notation to Positive Challenger, a car carrier operated by Eastern Car Liner Ltd., and managed by ECL Shipmanagement Limited, for vessels equipped with additional firefighting measures for transporting electric vehicles (EVs).Shipping companies are implementing various measures to address EV fires, which raise concerns due to difficulties in extinguishing and the risk of re-ignition. To support these efforts, ClassNK has issued the ‘Guidelines…

Wallenius Marine has christened its newest pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) vessel, Future Way, during a ceremony in Emden, Germany on Monday.Built by CIMC Raffles in China, the new 200-meter-long ship is the first of two car carriers that will go on charter for Volkswagen between Europe and North America. The vessel's cargo capacity is equivalent to 6,500 cars, which are loaded and unloaded efficiently through a center ramp system consisting of a long ramp serving all decks.The…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has been granted certification for its voluntary efforts to improve fire prevention on the car carrier Cerulean Ace.The LNG-fueled vessel is operated by MOL and managed by MOL Ship Management. It has been granted certification for "Additional Fire-Fighting measures for Vehicle Carrier (AFVC)" by ClassNK for measures that prevent onboard fires during the transport of electric vehicles (EV).This is a world first for a shipping company's voluntary measures…

Transnational organised criminals are attempting to import hundreds of kilograms of illicit drugs into Australia by paying associates to conceal them inside imported vehicles.The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) have identified a significant increase in attempts to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia inside cars, vans and trucks, with a total of 303kg seized on arrival last year.AFP intelligence suggests trusted insiders and criminals based offshore…

The lead ship of Höegh Autoliners' Aurora class, Höegh Aurora, was delivered at a naming ceremony at China Merchants Heavy Industry’s (CMHI) shipyard in Jiangsu, China, on Tuesday.The newbuild is the first of 12 Aurora Class vessels being built by CMHI. Featuring 14 decks—including five liftable decks—the ship can carry up to 9,100 CEU, making it the world's largest pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) vessel. With enhanced decks and ramps, the vessel is designed to carry electric vehicles on all decks…

Höegh Autoliners' Höegh Aurora, the world's largest pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) vessel, will soon embark on its maiden voyage and commence commercial operations following delivery at a naming ceremony next week.The newbuild is the first of 12 Aurora Class vessels being built by China Merchants Heavy Industry, in China. Featuring 14 decks—including five liftable decks—the ship can carry up to 9,100 CEU. With enhanced decks and ramps, the vessel is designed to carry electric vehicles on all decks…

NYK Line, NYK Trading Corporation and Rexxam Corporation have begun onboard testing of jointly developed prototype car lashing belts using recycled polyester fiber for use in car carriers.Aiming to reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the three companies signed an agreement in 2022 to jointly develop a car lashing belt that uses recycled polyester fiber for the belt portion. On April 23, a hundred of these prototype belts were loaded for testing on…

Classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) reports it has awarded approval in principle (AIP) to the Marine Design & Research Institute of China (MARIC) for a dual-fuel 12,800 CEU capacity pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) design - the world’s largest car carrier. The ship is part of a new generation of Ultra-Large environmentally friendly roll on-roll off (ro-ro) car carriers with a load capacity of around 12,800 vehicles. The vessel is equipped with an advanced ammonia-fuel power system. Solar energy and batteries can also be integrated.

KR has awarded an approval in principle (AIP) for the next-generation  K-Ammonia storage and powered pure car and truck carrier (PCTC), developed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) with the participation of Hyundai Glovis and G-Marine Service, at Posidonia 2024.Currently, to address the increasingly stringent global greenhouse gas regulations, the development of alternative fuel technologies is actively underway, and ammonia fuel technology is one of the most highly regarded in the market.