On July 21, Bahri Line, a subsidiary of the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri), announced the launch of a new shipbuilding program. The company has placed an order with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard for two firm and two optional LNG dual-fuel Roll-on/Roll-off Container (RoCon) vessels, marking a significant step forward in the modernization of its fleet.
Bahri stated that this shipbuilding project draws upon the company’s operational experience with its existing RoCon vessel design. The new vessels will incorporate various design optimizations aimed at maximizing cargo capacity, flexibility, and overall operational performance—including enhanced container stacking capabilities—thereby enabling the transport of larger volumes and a wider variety of cargo. Additionally, they will be equipped with hoistable decks to further boost capacity for vehicles and RoRo cargo, offering greater adaptability to meet diverse transport requirements.
The new vessels will be equipped with LNG dual-fuel engines and feature various advanced energy-saving technologies to significantly enhance operational performance, with energy efficiency projected to improve by 10% compared to Bahri’s existing fleet. They will also be fitted with an onshore power supply system, enabling zero-emission operations while docked. Furthermore, the design will optimize accommodation standards, placing a strong emphasis on crew comfort and well-being.
Backed by Bahri, this shipbuilding investment marks a strategic milestone in the company’s shipping development journey, aligning with its long-term goal of “delivering innovative, sustainable, and high-performance maritime solutions while contributing to the global shipping industry’s drive toward greater efficiency.”
In the shipbuilding sector, China Merchants Jinling Shipyard has unveiled several new vessels this month, including three 7,000 CEU LNG dual-fuel car carriers ordered by Singapore-based East Pacific Shipping (EPS), six 8,600 CEU LNG dual-fuel car carriers ordered by Norway’s Global Car Carriers, and one new ro-pax vessel for German shipping operator TT-Line.