GSI strengthens South Korean major’s LNG-powered fleet with latest PCTC delivery

Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) and China Shipbuilding Trading, subsidiaries of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), have christened and delivered the first of two 8,600 CEU liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered dual-fuel car carriers built for South Korea’s H-Line Shipping.

As informed, the newbuilding, named Glovis Trust, was turned over on February 27, 2025, at the Haijia automobile terminal in Nansha port, located at the estuary of the Pearl River, about 65 kilometers from the sea. It is understood that the vessel is set to be chartered by Hyundai Glovis, a logistics company under South Korea’s Hyundai Group.

The second unit in this order, placed at the beginning of 2023, is planned to be handed over in 2026.

According to Guangzhou Shipyard International, Glovis Trust is 200 meters long. It features a width of 38 meters, and a design draft of 9.2 meters. With a speed of 19 knots, the vessel will run about 35 kilometers per hour.

Owing to its ability to run on a clean fuel like liquefied natural gas, the car carrier is expected to achieve ‘major’ emission reductions, meeting the Tier III emission stipulations set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Per GSI, the unit features eco-friendly as well as energy-efficient technology. It has been outfitted with a ‘smart’ ship system, said to optimize navigation, engine operations and cargo handling and, in doing so, improve both efficiency and safety.

The shipyard’s representatives have highlighted that Glovis Trust also possesses an array of energy-saving and emissions-decreasing solutions, such as a main engine exhaust gas waste heat recovery system, an ‘improved’ hull design and a propeller duct.

The Liberia-flagged vessel is understood to be an “upgraded” version of H-Line Shipping’s 7,000 CEU LNG-powered PCTC quartet booked at GSI in 2022, the final unit of which—the 200-meter long car carrier Glovis Success—was handed over in November 2024.

The previous ships, Glovis Solar, Glovis Sunshine and Glovis Selene, were delivered in April, July and September 2024, respectively.

As stated by GSI, the yard has so far clinched around 40 PCTC orders and has built and turned over 13 of these units thus far.

In April 2024, Bermuda-based ship owner and charterer SFL Corporation rolled the red carpet for Thor Highway, the fourth (and final) LNG-powered dual-fuel car carrier in its series built by Guangzhou Shipbuilding International. The vessel was leased to Japan’s giant Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K-Line) on a ten-year-long charter agreement.

In other, recent news, namely in mid-February 2025, Guangzhou Shipyard International kicked off the construction of a 10,800 CEU LNG/dual-fuel PCTC for South Korean shipping heavyweight HMM. In addition to LNG propulsion, the companies revealed that the newbuilding would also be ammonia- and methanol-ready.

The PCTC is part of a ten-unit strong deal forged in December 2023 and backed by charterer Hyundai Glovis.