China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing has secured an approval in principle from classification society DNV for a new LNG-powered pure car and truck carrier (PCTC).
The approval is for a for the second phase of a dual-fuel PCTC design able to carry 8000 units, according to a statement by China Merchants.
It follows the development of the first phase approved last year.
According to the statement, this new hybrid PCTC design is ammonia-ready and features battery energy storage.
China Merchants expects this design with type C tanks to become the “benchmark green vessel” of the new generation of large car carriers.
China Merchant yards have secured a large number of orders for LNG-powered vessels, including the LNG dual-fuel PCTCs ordered by Idan Ofer’s Eastern Pacific Shipping, the Hoegh Autoliners vessels, and NYK’s PCTCs.
DNV’s most recent data shows that owners placed orders for more than 200 LNG-powered ships this year.
LNG-powered container vessels and car carriers constituted nearly two thirds of the 203 ship orders during this year, according to DNV.
