EPS orders six LNG dual-fuel PCTCs at Chinese yards

Singapore-based shipping company Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has placed orders for a total of six new pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) to support its commitment to sustainability and fleet expansion.

The company has signed contracts with two major Chinese shipbuilders, Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding and China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) Jinling, in a move that further solidifies its presence in the global car carrier market.

According to the data provided by Intermodal, the order at Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding encompasses four 5,500 CEU PCTCs, which will be equipped with liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel engines. Each vessel is priced at $80 million, with delivery scheduled for 2027.

In a further expansion of its fleet, EPS has ordered two additional LNG dual-fuel PCTCs from CMHI Jinling. These two vessels, also priced at $80 million each, are expected to be delivered in 2028.

Like their counterparts from Fujian Mawei, these PCTCs will be powered by LNG engines, making them part of EPS’s broader strategy to transition to greener, more sustainable shipping operations.

Eastern Pacific Shipping’s latest orders come at a time of heightened focus on sustainability in the global shipping industry. The move is a part of the company’s broader strategy to modernize and expand its fleet.

These new PCTCs are expected not only to help reduce EPS‘ carbon footprint but also to support the growing demand for eco-friendly transportation solutions in the shipping industry.

To remind, EPS recently ordered six ultra-large ethane carriers in China, which will be equipped with energy-saving technologies to make them suitable for the net-zero future.

The shipowner booked the vessels at Jiangnan Shipyard, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation. They are scheduled for delivery in 2027.