On October 7, China Merchants Industry Jinling Shipyard and Germany’s TT-Line Company held a signing ceremony in Europe for a Letter of Intent for 1+1 second-generation green ro-pax vessels. This marks another collaboration between the two parties, building upon the successful experience and high mutual trust from their initial cooperation, focusing on the design and construction of a new generation of high-end ro-pax vessels. It also signifies another expansion of China Merchants Industry Jinling Shipyard in the European high-end ro-pax vessel market.
Mr. Bernhard Termühlen, Owner and CEO of TT-Line Company, Wu Sichuan, Chairman of China Merchants Industry, and Mei Zhonghua, Deputy General Manager, attended the ceremony. Jiang Jiazhong, General Manager of China Merchants Industry Nanjing Jinling, and Andreas Schaerli, Chief Operating Officer of TT-Line Company, signed the Letter of Intent for the new project. Tian Zhengjun, Deputy Chief Engineer of China Merchants Industry, Ding Jianliang, General Manager of the Operations Management Department of China Merchants Industry, and Wang Xingbao, Assistant General Manager of China Merchants Industry Qingdao Shipyard, were also present at the event.
The initial cooperation between China Merchants Industry Jinling Shipyard and TT-Line Company began in 2018, when the two parties signed a contract for 1+1 green dual-fuel ro-pax vessels. This was the first time TT-Line placed its shipbuilding plans in a market outside Europe, opening a new chapter in global cooperation. Jinling Shipyard, with its years of experience in the ro-ro ship sector, seized this opportunity to challenge the new track of high-end ro-pax vessels.
With the successful delivery of the “NILS HOLGERSSON” and “PETER PAN” in 2022, this first collaboration, characterized by mutual breakthroughs, concluded successfully with results exceeding expectations, laying a solid foundation for further in-depth cooperation between the two parties. The “NILS HOLGERSSON” and “PETER PAN” have already demonstrated excellent performance in TT-Line’s efficient trade routes connecting Germany, Poland, Lithuania, and Sweden.
Compared to the first generation, the upcoming second-generation green ro-pax vessels for TT-Line will feature comprehensive upgrades in core performance and parameters. The new vessels will have a length of approximately 240 meters and can accommodate 1,000 passengers. Features such as the LNG hybrid propulsion concept will make these ships new benchmarks for environmental protection and operational efficiency.
China Merchants Industry highly values the long-term cooperative relationship established with TT-Line Company. It will take this cooperation as a new starting point, transforming the successful experience from past collaborations into forward momentum. By fully leveraging its own technological and construction advantages, China Merchants Industry aims to build high-end ro-pax vessels that better meet the demands of the European market for TT-Line, achieving a higher level of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
It is understood that China Merchants Industry Jinling Shipyard is a core member of China Merchants Industry in ro-ro ship construction, operating two major facilities in Nanjing and Yizheng. Its core product, the “ro-ro ship,” has been selected as a national manufacturing “single champion.” It has been a leader in the global ro-ro ship manufacturing sector for many consecutive years and is the domestic ro-ro ship manufacturer with the earliest start in ro-ro ship construction, the highest number of deliveries, and the most comprehensive range of product types.
Including the latest orders, data from Clarksons shows that, to date, China Merchants Industry Nanjing Jinling holds a total orderbook of 80 vessels, amounting to 2.58 million deadweight tons. This includes 31 Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs), 18 container ships, 14 multi-purpose vessels, 9 bulk carriers, 6 chemical tankers, and 2 methanol bunkering vessels, with delivery schedules extending until 2028.
