Car Carriers News

NYK says it has taken delivery of the new high-tech pure car carrier (PCC), 'Aries Leader', built by Shin Kurushima Dockyard Co. Ltd. With a capacity of 7,000 units, the new carrier includes the latest energy-saving technology including a hull air-lubrication system and a hybrid turbocharger — both of which, says NYK have been installed on a car carrier for the first time — in addition to an electronically controlled engine and the use of water-emulsified boiler fuel. NYK adds that the hulls of its pure car carriers have traditionally been painted aurora blue…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has signed a contract covering construction of four next-generation "FLEXIE" car carriers at Minaminippon Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. To be delivered in 2017 and 2018, the ships will serve on on MOL's worldwide car carrier services and will offer increased capacity and a new deck design for more flexible loading. Deck construction of the newly-ordered car carriers will be substantially altered to change the number of decks from the current 12 to 14. Furthermore, the number of liftable decks will be increased from two to six.

Oslo-listed Norwegian Car Carriers (NOCC) has signed a contract with Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries for the construction of two 6500 ceu Pure Car Truck Carrier (OCTCs). Delivery from the South Korean shipyard is scheduled for between the fourth quarter 2016 and first quarter 2017, and there is an option included for two additional vessels. NOCC’s strategy is to grow its business as a tonnage provider serving the global car carrier operators, says a company statement. The company currently has 10 car carriers in its fleet ranging between 4,000-7,000 ceu.

The Nam Trieu Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (Nasico) under the Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin) on July 12 signed a contract to build a pair of ships, each capable of carrying 6,900 cars, for the Blystad group of Norway, according to a report on VOV news (http://english.vovnews.vn) The 200 x 32-m car carriers will be built to a design of DeltaMarin  under the supervision of DNV of Norway. The first ship is expected to be completed and transferred in October 2013 and the other, in April 2014.

Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA has entered into a contract with Ray Shipping regarding the charter of 3 car carriers on a 15 year timecharter with options. Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA has entered into a contract with Ray Shipping regarding the charter of 3 car carriers on a 15 year timecharter with options.

MacGregor has received orders from two Japanese yards to deliver comprehensive RoRo access equipment packages for four car carriers. The equipment will be delivered during Q3 in 2017. The orders are booked into the first quarter 2016 order intake. The car carriers are built at two shipyards; two 7,400 CEU pure car/truck carriers (PCTCs) at Shin Kurushima Dockyard and two 3,000 pure car carriers (PCC) at Nakai Zosen Corporation. "We have a proven record of reliable deliveries and excellent support and relationship with these Japanese shipyards…

A&P Southampton is preparing for a busy period after successfully winning contracts to refit several car carriers in their dry dock this Summer. The first to arrive was the 28,070dwt Tristan, owned and operated by Sweden's Wallenius Lines which underwent a 15 day repair. Whilst in dry dock, the vessel underwent various work including hull blasting and painting, mechanical and electrical works, boiler and other general repairs. Following the Tristan, A&P Southampton has stemmed several other car carriers from worldwide companies including NYK Ship Management and the Grimaldi Group for dry dock and repairs during the Summer period. All of the visiting companies…

Representatives from Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA (WW) and Wallenius Lines AB (OW) on August 10, 2002 signed the agreement with Korea’s Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd. (HMM) on the acquisition of HMM’s car carrier division. The terms of the agreement include long-term exclusive contracts with Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) and Kia Motor Corporation (KMC) on shipping their car exports for an initial five-year period, with provision for extensions. The newly-established company, which will acquire HMM’s car carrier division, will be incorporated in Korea, with WW and OW together holding 80 percent and with HMC and KMC together holding 20 percent. The price for the acquisition will be $1.3 billion plus the assumption of future vessel charter obligations.

Tapping into one of its major business fields, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has established MOL Auto Carrier Express (MOL ACE) as global brand in the car carrier service. MOL will start to use MOL ACE beginning July 1. MOL’s carrier service network includes offices and agencies in approximately 140 nations around the world, and the MOL Group operates about 120 car carriers that transport automobiles, buses and trucks  as well as other large cargos such as machinery and trailers used in construction.

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said that a car carrier that grounded off Norfolk has been refloated with the assistance of two tugs. No injuries and no pollution have been reported. Source: HK Law

Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) is driving forward in South America with newly completed operations in Argentina and Panama as the car carriers agent for Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores (CSAV). As general and port agents for the car carriers division of CSAV Group, the largest shipping company in Latin America, ISS managed the arrival of CSAV Rio Maipo at Zarate port in Argentina, successfully handling 1,648 vehicles. Most recently, ISS managed the arrival of CSAV Rio Nevado in Panama, with this vessel also transiting the Panama Canal. CSAV appointed ISS at the end of 2014 to attend one of its car carrier vessels at Callao port, Peru, when it successfully discharged 1,825 vehicles.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL)  announced that on August 31, the MOL-operated car carrier Swan Ace (capacity: 6,400 standard passenger cars) called at the Port of Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture and loaded 800 used vehicles. It was the first call for MOL-operated car carriers of Japan – East Africa trade. On the same day, the cargo owner, port officials, and other guests attended a commemorative ceremony at a hotel in Kisarazu City. Vast used vehicle export yards are clustered around the Port of Kisarazu.

The 55,000 gt car carrier 'Gravity Highway', which was under construction in Hyundai Mipo Shipyard, collided with chemical tanker 'Maritime Maisie' while on sea trials some 9 nautical miles off Busan, reports Yonhap News Agency. The impact caused a fire on the tanker, which was in danger of sinking, and some of the 27 crew members sustained light burns or abrasions, but none serious, officials informed Yonhap. Sixteen coast guard boats, some Navy vessels and helicopters were sent to the scene, and rescued all crew members aboard the tanker, officials said.

Clarksons Research on the oceangoing car carrier sector finds that 20.5 million cars were expected to be traded by sea in 2017, up by 5% year-on-year. Further Clarksons found that the overall global car carrier fleet was expected to grow slowly in full year 2017, to 781 vessels or 3.96 million car equivalent capacity. The current car carrier orderbook is at 6% of the fleet in capacity terms and $2.1 billion in contract value; 63% of capacity owned by top ten owners; and  charter rates still under pressure but recently recording limited improvements. www.clarksons.com

China's Nantong Mingde Heavy Industry Co. reports car-carrier completes latest phase sea trials, but more work to be done. Car carrying vessel (MD087) built for the Gram Car Carrier company returns to the shipyard's COSCO steel structure dock having completed a 55-hour sea trial. The builders say that the ship's quality satisfied the ship owners and the classification society but that there remained one eighth of 150 requirements to be made good, which they say demonstrates they have reached a new breakthrough in building quality.

Cochin Port, one of the top 12 major ports in the country, has begun coastal transportation of cars, with carrier ship M V Dresden carrying 500 vehicles reached with first consignment. The first call of a Car Carrier ship, M. V. Dresden wad scheduled at Cochin Port  yesterday evening (September 26, 2016). The ship is a foreign carrier of Cyprus registration, which has obtained license for coastal run between the ports in India, and is of 177 m length and 7 m draft. The Car Carrier has the circuit of Ennore-Cochin-Kandla-Cochin-Ennore…

Siem Car Carriers to exhibit at upcoming Breakbulk Americas Transportation Conference & Exhibition. Siem Car Carriers operates a transpacific liner service, specializing in the movement of cars, roll on roll off (RO-RO), high, wide and heavy (OHW), break bulk & project cargo to provide a North America Pacific Asia (NAPA) liner service between Mexico, the US West Coast, China, Japan, Korea and Russia. The company says Its fleet is modern and efficient and that they work closely…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced that the company has formed the concept for its next-generation vessels, which will be a technically practical in the near future, by building on and refining technologies it has already developed and adopted. The first is a next-generation, environment-friendly car carrier. MOL continues to work on concepts for other next-generation vessels such as ferries, bulkships, tankers, and containerships. The company will continue working to stay in the vanguard of technological developments in the global ocean shipping industry.

Norwegian Car Carriers ASA announce a new time charter contract for their 'NOCC Caspian'. The company's 100% owned car carrier NOCC Caspian's charter is for a duration of about 12 months with commencement in early December 2012. The concluded time charter rate is higher than the rate on the current charter and will generate an EBITDA of about NOK 13.5 million during the twelve months charter period. Norwegian Car Carriers ASA has a fleet of 13 vessels for the transportation of cars and other rolling cargoes.  

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. introduced an upgraded stowage planning system for car carriers called “MOL-CAPS”. The MOL-CAPS system generates a voyage-by-voyage stowage plan that determines where to stow specific vehicles in consideration of different factors, such as the onboard structure, the type of vehicles being transported, and calling ports. The company introduced MOL-CAPS in 1999, and will adopt this new version for the next-generation car carriers, the FLEXIE series, which will be delivered starting in March 2018.

Auto Marine Transport contracts Samjin Shipbuilding Industries Korea (Samjin) to build a series of pure car & truck carriers (PCTC's). Auto Marine Transport, a tonnage provider created with the assistance of Siem Car Carriers, sign an intiial agreement with the shipyard to build eight energy efficient pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) vessels capable of carrying 6700 CEU (car equivalent units) and is made up of two firm orders and options for a further six vessels. Simon Stevens, Chairman of Siem Car Carriers, said
“We are very pleased to have played a part in helping to establish Auto Marine Transport as the tonnage provider to access the energy-efficient PCTC market.

The car carrier Viking Emerald got steering gear failure and ran aground off Woodland, Washington. The vessel, owned by Norway’s Gram Car Carriers and managed by OSM Ship Management in Singapore, was refloated several hours later with the help of tugs, and resumed voyage. No visible damages reported. The vessel was en route from Tacoma to Portland loaded with 4,000 vehicles on board. The hardly stuck vessel was refloated by three tugs and towed to safe depth, where will be inspected.

Sweden’s TTS Ships Equipment AB, Gothenburg, part of Norway’s TTS Marine ASA has landed two contracts for delivery of ships equipment for a total of four car carriers. This confirms TTS’ leading position in the supply of cargo access equipment to the car carrier newbuilding industry. The contract with South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in Korea (Leif Hoegh A/S) and Croatia’s Uljanik Ship Yard, Pula (Ray Shipping) involves deliveries to two car carriers each. The deliveries include construction and supply of key components to the RoRo access systems including internal car decks and ramps, as well as stern ramps for the loading and discharge of vehicles. The delivery of the equipment is scheduled for the end of 2007.