On December 6, China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry held a naming and delivery ceremony in Nantong, Jiangsu Province for the 9300CEU methanol dual-fuel PCTC (pure car and track carrier) “CM SHEN ZHEN”, which China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) had ordered.
The successful delivery of the new vessel marks a pivotal leap for China Merchants Group in the green Ro-Ro vessel sector, transitioning from “ first vessel breakthrough” to “ mass production capability.” This achievement represents a substantial step toward serving China’s carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, while also demonstrating the maturity of the Group’s internal collaborative model.
“CM SHEN ZHEN” has a total length of 219.9 meters and a beam of 37.7 meters. It is designed to carry 9,300 standard vehicle spaces, with an actual capacity of up to 9,492. The total vehicle loading area spans 78,416 square meters, equivalent to approximately 11 standard soccer fields.
The vessel features 13 vehicle loading decks, including 3 liftable decks, enabling efficient loading and unloading of passenger cars, battery electric vehicles (BEVs), fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), buses, trucks, forklifts, rolling trailers and road trailers. Dual loading/unloading channels—rear ramp and side ramp—boost handling efficiency by 30%.
The entire vessel is equipped with 156 closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems. Coupled thermal imaging infrared sensors are installed on all 13 decks, achieving an initial fire detection rate of 95%. The fire alarm system is integrated with CCTV to ensure safety, enabling rapid detection and confirmation of fire incidents.
CMES stated that the new vessel is another significant achievement of CMES and China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry in deepening internal collaboration and jointly promoting green transformation, which will add a “new engine” to accelerate the development of green vessels and the international business layout of its PCTC fleet.
China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry stated that it will continue to deepen strategic collaboration with partners, expand into new areas such as green shipping and digital shipping, and contribute its strength to building a new development paradigm.
The “CM SHEN ZHEN” and its sister vessel “CM GUAN ZHEN” are the world’s first large-scale PCTCs powered by methanol dual-fuel engines. The main and auxiliary methanol dual-fuel engines of the vessels are respectively equipped with Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems, complying with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Tier III emission standards and enabling over 70% emission reduction when using green methanol. They are fitted with a medium-voltage shore power system to achieve “zero emissions” during berthing, and have obtained certifications from Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and China Classification Society (CCS), meeting the access standards of the European Union and China.
According to an announcement released by CMES on December 9, as of the date of the announcement, the company’s PCTC sector had a total of 22 Ro-Ro vessels of various types in operation, including 11 Yangtze River Ro-Ro vessels and 11 coastal and ocean-going Ro-Ro vessels. The company has an order backlog of four 7800CEU methanol dual-fuel powered Ro-Ro vessels, scheduled for delivery in stages starting in 2026.