China Merchants Heavy Industries Haimen shipyard (CMHI Haimen shipyard) successfully launched the world’s first 9,300 CEU methanol dual-fuel powered PCTC (pure car and track carrier) on May 21, marking a key milestone in the vessel’s construction for owner China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) and laying a solid foundation for the project’s scheduled delivery.
It is understood that the PCTC is the world’s largest methanol dual-fuel powered automobile ro-ro vessel under construction. The vessel has an overall length of 219.9 meters, a beam of 37.7 meters, a depth of 14.9 meters, a draft of 10.2 meters and a design speed of 19 knots.
It is equipped with a methanol energy ecosystem consisting of a methanol dual-fuel main engine, a methanol dual-fuel auxiliary engine, a methanol dual-fuel boiler, a methanol supply unit, etc. It is the world’s first ro-ro vessel that uses green energy methanol as main power source. It meets the International Maritime Organization’s TIER-3 emission requirements and has significant low-carbon and environmental protection advantages.
According to previous reports, at the end of March 2023, CMES signed an order agreement with its affiliated company China Merchants Industry through its wholly-owned subsidiary for two 9,300 CEU methanol new energy dual-fuel ro-ro vessels. The total shipbuilding cost of the two vessels will not exceed US$192 million.
This launched PCTC is the first vessel of this series of methanol dual-fuel-powered automobile ro-ro vessels. Notably, the vessel is about to enter the commissioning and sea trial stage after launching and is expected to be delivered in the second half of 2025.