Norwegian Car Carriers (NOCC), a Norwegian car carrier owner controlled by U.S. banking giant JPMorgan Chase, continues to expand its presence in the pure car and track carrier (PCTC) market and has placed an order for two new vessels with a Chinese shipyard with which it has a long-standing partnership.
According to fleet data on NOCC’s official website, the shipowner has signed a contract with CIMC Raffles for the construction of two 7,100 CEU liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel PCTCs, with hull numbers Hull 641 and Hull 642, respectively. Clarksons data indicates that the order was finalized in early October, with delivery expected in March and June 2030, respectively.
NOCC’s collaboration with CIMC Raffles in the new shipbuilding sector began in 2023, when the two parties signed contracts for the construction of the first two 7,100-CEU LNG dual-fuel PCTCs: the “NOCC Pacific” (scheduled for delivery in late 2025) and the “NOCC Adriatic” (scheduled for early 2026).
In July 2024 and October 2025, NOCC signed contracts with CIMC Raffles for the construction of a third and a fourth 7,100-CEU LNG dual-fuel PCTC, with delivery expected in 2027. These new vessels will be named “NOCC Kattegat” (Hull 612) and “NOCC Skagerak” (Hull 613).
With this latest order, NOCC has now ordered six 7,100 CEU LNG dual-fuel PCTCs from CIMC Raffles, all of which will fly the Norwegian flag. This type of PCTC has an overall length of 199.9 meters, a beam of 38 meters, a design draft of 8.6 meters, and a design speed of 19 knots. With a maximum capacity of 7,100 vehicle spaces, it is equipped with two C-type LNG tanks as well as dual-fuel main and auxiliary engines, enabling zero emissions during port operations.
According to the official website, NOCC’s fleet currently consists of a total of 9 PCTCs. Excluding the 6 ships already delivered or under construction by CIMC Raffles, the remaining three are the 6,500 CEU PCTC “Liberty Passion” (built in 2017), the 6,500 CEU PCTC “NOCC Oceanic” (built in 2012), and the 6,754 CEU PCTC “NOCC Atlantic” (built in 2009).
On the shipyard front, CIMC Raffles has publicly announced three PCTC orders this year. In addition to two new vessels for NOCC, these include a follow-up order from Zodiac Maritime for two 7,000 CEU LNG dual-fuel PCTCs and an order from SFL Corp for one 7,000 CEU LNG dual-fuel PCTC; deliveries are expected in 2028 and 2029, respectively.
CIMC Raffles reportedly operates three construction bases: Yantai CIMC Raffles, Longkou CIMC Raffles, and Haiyang CIMC Raffles. The aforementioned PCTC newbuild projects are all being constructed at Longkou CIMC Raffles.
The official website states that Longkou CIMC Raffles primarily builds car carriers, high-end marine fishing equipment, small- and medium-sized vessels, and self-elevating platforms. The company operates a digital laser hybrid welding production line and an intelligent ro-ro passenger ship production line, both of which are the first of their kind in China.
Yantai CIMC Raffles’ core business includes the design, new construction, maintenance, retrofitting, and related services for various types of offshore equipment, such as drilling rigs, production platforms and modules, offshore engineering vessels, and offshore wind power equipment. The company has the capacity to simultaneously build two large FPSOs.
Haiyang CIMC Raffles’ core business involves the manufacture of offshore engineering equipment (including modules) and their structural components, ships (up to 300,000 tons), and steel structures. Its product portfolio includes semi-submersible drilling platforms, semi-submersible lifting platforms, specialty vessels, wind power equipment, functional modules, and steel structures.