The fleet list of Global Car Carriers (GCC)—a Norwegian car carrier owner affiliated with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)—indicates that the company holds orders for 12 pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs), all of which are being built at Chinese shipyards.
Specifically:
- China Merchants Jinling Shipyard will build 6 LNG dual-fuel 8,600 CEUS PCTCs, with all deliveries scheduled between 2028 and 2030.
- China Merchants Weihai Shipyard will build 4 LNG dual-fuel PCTCs, including:2 units of 7,000 CEU PCTCs, scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029;2 units of 8,600 CEU PCTCs, scheduled for delivery in 2029.
- CSSC Guangzhou Shipyard International will build 2 LNG dual-fuel 7,000 CEU PCTCs, scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029.
All new vessels of both types will be designed by the Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI).
The 8,600 CEU PCTC is SDARI’s second-generation LNG/battery hybrid PCTC. Measuring 199.95 meters in length and 38 meters in width, the vessel is powered by an MAN B&W 6S60ME-C10.7-GI-EcoEGR dual-fuel main engine and a 500 kWh energy storage battery system. It features a design that allows for future conversion to ammonia fuel and complies with NOx Tier III emission standards as well as EEDI Phase 3 energy efficiency requirements. Additionally, it is equipped with an 11 kV high-voltage shore power system to achieve zero emissions while in port. The vessel has also been specifically optimized for transporting electric and hydrogen-fueled vehicles, with enhanced safety and loading efficiency.
The 7,000 CEU PCTC is an energy-efficient, LNG dual-fuel ocean-going PCTC developed and designed by SDARI, featuring an overall length of 199.9 meters and a breadth of 38 meters. It is powered by an MAN B&W 6S60ME-C10.5-GI-EcoEGR dual-fuel main engine, with emissions meeting NOx Tier III standards in both fuel modes. The vessel utilizes an S-type bulbous bow to optimize energy efficiency and is equipped with a shore power connection to achieve zero emissions while in port. Additionally, the design incorporates four heavy-duty decks and four hoistable decks, allowing for the flexible loading of both heavy vehicles and standard passenger cars.
According to official company information, GCC is the world’s third-largest car carrier owner, currently operating a fleet of 20 PCTCs with capacities ranging from 2,000 to 7,000 CEU. Formerly known as Gram Car Carriers, the company was acquired by MSC for $700 million in 2024 and subsequently renamed, though it retained the “GCC” abbreviation.