Wallenius Wilhelmsen Orders Up to 12 LNG-Powered Car Carriers in $1.5 Billion Fleet Expansion

Wallenius Wilhelmsen is expanding its fleet renewal program with an order for four new dual-fuel car carriers and options for eight more, potentially adding 12 vessels in a deal valued at approximately $1.5 billion.

The Norwegian shipping and logistics group announced Wednesday that it has reached an agreement with China’s Jinling Shipyard (Jiangsu) for the construction of four 9,900-car-equivalent-unit (CEU) pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs), with deliveries beginning in mid-2030.

The agreement includes options for four additional vessels in 2031 and another four in 2032. If all options are exercised, total capital expenditure is expected to reach approximately $1.5 billion.

The ships will be equipped with dual-fuel LNG engines and built to Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s Shaper Class design, which features hoistable decks, heavy-duty ramps and flexible cargo spaces capable of accommodating passenger vehicles, trucks and other rolling equipment.

The latest order expands the company’s fleet renewal program to 26 vessels, including options, extending a newbuilding campaign launched in 2023 that Wallenius Wilhelmsen describes as the largest in its history.

“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,” said Xavier Leroi, chief operating officer of shipping services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen.

“Expanding our newbuilding program with deliveries from 2030 reflects our confidence in the long-term fundamentals of the market,” he added.

The newbuilding agreement follows a private placement completed earlier this month as the company continues investing in its long-term fleet requirements.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen has already begun taking delivery of vessels under its existing Shaper Class program, with the new ships intended to modernize its fleet while providing additional capacity across its global shipping network.

The company said the vessels’ flexible cargo configurations will allow it to respond to changing customer demand across the automotive and high-and-heavy equipment markets.

The investment also reinforces the company’s shift toward alternative-fuel-capable vessels. LNG dual-fuel propulsion offers a pathway to reducing certain emissions compared with conventional marine fuels, although its overall climate benefits depend in part on methane emissions and fuel sourcing.

Headquartered in Oslo, Wallenius Wilhelmsen operates approximately 130 vessels across 15 trade routes serving six continents. Its broader logistics network includes vehicle processing centers, inland distribution operations and marine terminals.

The company said the expanded newbuilding program will help maintain capacity and operational flexibility as it prepares for shipping demand into the next decade.

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