Wallenius Wilhelmsenhas confirmed the order for four9,300 car equivalent unit (ceu) vesselsfrom Jinling Shipyard in China. The dual-fuel vessels will becapable of operating on methanol, and will be ammonia-ready. The order includes individual options fora further eight vessels.
The official order was signed by Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s COO of Shipping Services, Xavier Leroi, and by the Deputy General Manager of China Merchants Industry Holdings Co., Ltd, Tiger Wu.
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Source: Wallenius Wilhelmsen
Xavier Leroi, COO of Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen, and the Deputy General Manager of China Merchants Industry Holdings Co. Ltd, Tiger Wu.
As reported by The Motorship in August when the LOI was signed, the deliveries of the 9,300 ceu vessel series will begin from mid-2026 onwards.
The new Shaper-class of vessels are likely to be among the largest vessels of their type when they enter service,The Motorshipnotes, and will give Wallenius Wilhelmsen the choice of introducing ammonia-fuelled engines into the later deliveries in the series.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen previouslynoted that the order forms part of the company’s strategy to provide a net-zero emission service to customers from 2027, alongside existing partnerships to reduce emissions through the use of biofuels.
Leroi previously identified the need to secure supplies of alternative fuels with the company’s companies as soon as it can be made available.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen notes that the newbuilding order forms part of its strategy to maintain a fleet of 125-135 vessels. The order forms part of its ongoing fleet renewal programme.
