Large Car News

With a fleet of nine U.S.-flag RoRo ships, American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group (ARC), is the U.S.’ premier commercial RoRo carrier of U.S. government and military cargo. As the world becomes an increasingly contentious place, Eric P. Ebeling, President & CEO, ARC, discusses the vast capabilities of the ARC fleet and logistics network, as well as the challenges and opportunities ahead for U.S.-flag ships in the international trade.By the numbers’ is a simplistic means to gauge the size and shape of any shipping company…

American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group Inc. (ARC) added ARC Honor as the ninth American flag roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel to its fleet.“This tremendously capable and flexible U.S.-flag ship is crewed by American merchant mariners and now operates in ARC’s global network supporting America’s national defense and economic security through trade,” said Eric Ebeling, ARC President & CEO. The vessel is ARC’s fourth large car/truck carrier (LCTC) vessel.The former Tulane was re-flagged to American registry and re-named the ARC Honor on February 2, 2024.

American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group Inc. (ARC) said it recently reflagged two ships to the U.S.-flag fleet. The two vessels, ARC Commitment and ARC Defender, were reflagged with the U.S. Coast Guard to American-flag registry in Jacksonville, Fla. in December 2021 and January 2022 respectively.Both ships are enrolled in the Maritime Security Program (MSP), the Congressional maritime readiness program that maintains a modern, active fleet of U.S.-flag, privately-owned ships…

The Nippon Foundation, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, and Shin Nihonkai Ferry Co., Ltd. have informed they've completed a demonstration test of what the companies say is the world’s first fully autonomous ship navigation systems on a large car ferry, conducted on the Iyonada Sea from Shinmoji, Kitakyushu City, on January 17.The demonstration was part of MEGURI 2040, a project promoting the development of fully autonomous vessels supported by The Nippon Foundation. "This test demonstrated the world’s first fully autonomous navigation system…

The blocking of the Suez Canal by one of the largest container ships in service in the world – the Ever Given – in March 2021 caused huge delays to hundreds of vessels waiting to transit the canal, one of the biggest chokepoints on the critical East/West trade shipping route. The blockage was estimated to have affected an estimated $9.6bn of goods each day, or around 12% of total world trade.The latest in a growing list of incidents involving large vessels, the Ever Given has…

Newbuild spend for vehicle carriers, including large car and truck carriers (LCTC), pure car and truck carriers (PCTC) and pure car carriers (PCC), smashed past $3.2 billion last week, following big volume orders from Eastern Pacific and Zodiac—an astonishing amount of money for a niche sector, exceeding the previous six years total combined. If we include options, a whopping $4.4 billion has been agreed year to date. Japanese shipyards have raised tariffs to $100 million for dual fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) 7,000 car equivalent units (CEU), up by a staggering $10 million compared to last year. Chinese yards have followed but maintain a healthy discount quoting $88 million for an equivalent spec.

Finnish shipbuilding company Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) and Australian TT-Line Company have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on two fast car and passenger ferries.The Project will have an impact on employment totalling around 3,500 person-years, and the construction work will start at the beginning of 2021, said a press release from the company specialized in constructing car ferries, icebreakers and naval vessels.”We are proud and grateful of the trust TT-Line Company has shown us. We believe that with this new partnership, we can serve our customer in a way that results in a world-class car and passenger ferry solution for TT-Line Company’s business.

The 6,400 standard passenger car capacity, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL)-operated car carrier Grand Orion has made a first call for such a vessel type in Cambodia.The Japanese shipping company said in a release that the car carrier called at the Port of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, and discharged about 12,000 tons of construction machinery. It was the first call at a Cambodian port by an MOL-operated car carrier, it added.In commemoration of the first call, Grand Orion Capt. Denis C. De la Peña received a memento from Sihanoukville Autonomous Port while the ship was in port.Most of the cars imported to Cambodia, both brand-new and second-hand, are currently carried in ocean containers or by car trailers…

APM Terminals Pipavav welcomed the Hoegh Tracer, one of the world’s largest pure car and truck Carrier (PCTC), and the largest to ever call an Indian port. At 14 decks high, the Hoegh Tracer has a capacity of 8,500 vehicles, and loaded 1,700 cars at Pipavav for export delivery on the Hoegh Middle East, India and Africa (MIAF) Service. APM Terminals Pipavav, in partnership with NYK Auto Logistics (India), opened a dedicated common user integrated RoRo terminal in August of 2015, with a capacity of 250,000 vehicles annually. The port is equipped to accommodate 4,500 to 5,000 cars and a Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) facility. There is also a mobilization yard for 150 cars, with a capacity to accommodate approximately 500 cars on the Quay.

The latest generation of car carrier arrived recently. The sun doesn’t just shine over the ship, it also contributes to generating energy for it as Drive Green Highway has high efficiency solar panels. Drive Green Highway is the world’s biggest ship adapted for solar energy. She is almost 200 meters long, 38 meters wide and is operated by the Japanese shipping company K Line. The ship has the capacity to load 7,500 cars. When she recently visited Copenhagen Malmö Port (CMP), just over 1,400 cars were unloaded in Malmö.

Hybrid Turbocharger developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machinery & Engine Co., Ltd. (MHI-MME), received the President Award 2015 in the 36th Energy-Efficient Machinery Award from Japan Machinery Federation (JMF). This Hybrid Turbocharger, which incorporates high speed generator motor in Mitsubishi MET Turbocharger, can convert excessive exhaust gas energy of large marine diesel engine into electric power efficiently and flexibly. Furthermore, it can turn into motoring mode so that turbocharger rotor can be accelerated by external electric power. This can supply more air with lower electric power than conventional auxiliary blower makes.

The automotive industry developed during the 20th century in Barcelona, Spain's principal industrial city and the center of one of Europe's four key development driving regions. The Port of Barcelona claims a leading role in the development of this sector throughout its history, and today it is one of its main factors of competitiveness, both for finished vehicles and containerized part traffic. When the industry began to develop in Catalonia, with manufacturers like Hispano Suiza and Elizalde…

Pharos Offshore Group has started construction of a newly designed remotely operated vehicle (ROV) specifically for the offshore wind farm cable market. The new Inter Turbine Array Trencher, the ITAT 800, is an 800 HP (600 kW) self-propelled trenching ROV that can be more easily maneuvered by the operators onboard its support ship than a towed plough. It uses a unique water jetting technology to cut the seabed. The technology is safer than a metal plough share or mechanical cutter around the valuable power cable.

On Sunday, Jan. 11, the Wallenius Wilhelmsen M/V Tijuca made its maiden call at the Port of Tacoma. With a total length of just over 760 ft and a capacity of 7,500 autos, the Tijuca is among the largest in the Wallenius Wilhelmsen fleet. The vessel was delivered to Wallenius Wilhelmsen from the Daewoo Shipyard in South Korea on Dec. 19, 2008. It took on cargo in Japan before making its maiden voyage across the Pacific to its first North American discharge in Tacoma (assorted construction machinery and other breakbulk cargoes). Delivery: Dec.

HUAL has entered into long-term time charter arrangements for two large car-carrier newbuildings. The vessels will be built at the Uljanik Shipyard in Croatia and will be delivered 1st half 2007. Leif Höegh & Co Ltd will own 49.5% in both vessels, which were ordered by Norwegian shipping investor Peter Gram. The Pure Car/Truck Carriers (PCTC) are well suited for HUAL's world wide trades and will have a deck capacity of about 59,000 sqm, two hoistable decks, ample high space capacity and a ramp capacity of 100 tons. The vessels will be technically managed by OSM Ship Management in Kristiansand. HUAL, the Ro/Ro car carrying unit of Leif Höegh & Co, is one of the world's leading operators of car carriers with a fleet of 45 Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro/Ro) vessels in its commercial operation.

The idea of a ferry going over the sea to Skye is not a new one, although with the Skye bridge opening a few years ago, it is not an adventure many people undertake these days. A small car ferry operates in the south of the island, and a large car ferry takes people over from Uig in the north west corner of Skye to the Outer Hebridian islands of Lewis and Barra. There had however, long been talk of a possible passenger service linking the North of Skye to the Scottish mainland at Gairloch. A feasibility study was carried out by the local council, after which some local businessmen pulled together to form a new company in 2003 called West Highland Seaways Ltd., trading as 6° West.

Wärtsilä, in conjunction with the Finnish research project SEATECH 2000+, has been developing some new machinery solutions for RoPax vessels. A promising concept is a semi-diesel electric machinery, where mechanical propulsion is combined with a diesel electric power plant. This new RoPax concept was presented for the first time at the Europort 2001 exhibition. The RoPax vessel has a semi-diesel electric machinery featuring a diesel mechanical part driving a conventional CP propeller and a diesel electric power plant powering a contra rotating electric pod and the entire hotel load of the ship. The machinery features Wärtsilä EnviroEngines equipped with Common Rail and compact SCR units.

When Austal Ltd. of Henderson, Western Australia, started looking last year for a CEO to lead its U.S.-based operations, the job description must have been daunting. They wanted a leader to take the helm of their newly built shipyard in Mobile, Ala., and turn it into a major contractor for both military and commercial vessels in the United States. Austal had recently entered the U.S. market for the first time, intent on competing with higher-profile rivals such as Incat/Bollinger, Derecktor Shipyards and Kvaerner. The company settled on Alan Lerchbacker, 50, an energetic former Navy Aquanaut with a business background, who took the position in February 2002. Lerchbacker had never heard of Austal until a headhunter contacted him.

Passenger shipping firm Attica Enterprises signed an agreement with shareholders of Strintzis for the acquisition of an approximate 38 percent stake in Strintzis. Under the agreement, Strintzis' shareholders will receive Attica Enterprises shares participating in a forthcoming capital increase of Attica Enterprises. Attica Enterprises will participate with five members in the nine-member board of Strintzis, while Strintzis' managing director and chairman will join Attica Enterprises' board, to be expanded for that reason by two seats to seven. The two companies aim to expand their operations into new domestic and international routes and take advantage of economies of scale and operating synergies, officials said.

Ferry operator Attica Enterprises has completed its purchase of shares in Strintzis Lines, after a block of 14,431,090 shares were transferred on the Athens bourse at a price of 2,900 drachmas ($9) per share. The total value of the transaction reached 41.8 billion drachmas ($130 million). Following the transaction, ferry operator Attica Enterprises has a 40.22 percent controlling interest in Strintzis Lines. The two companies have a fleet of 16 ships, of which four are Superfast ferries. By the end of 2001, their combined fleet will total 28 ships, with 12 large car and passenger ferries currently under construction.