Tag: car carriers

As VesselsValue reports, with an estimated USD 775 bn worth of exports in 2018, cars represent the world’s number three exported product by value, trailing only crude oil and refined petroleum oils. Based on this, the vehicle carrier market should be booming, but this is not the case.

The United European Car Carriers, jointly owned by NYK and Wallenius Lines, informed of a new contract to construct two new generation hybrid-powered PCTCs (Pure car truck ­carriers), expected to achieve 40% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030.

In 2006, the RoRo ‘Cougar Ace’ was involved in an incident that caused its entire cargo of almost 5,000 brand new cars to be scrapped. The incident highlighted issues related to the assignment of duties in a ship’s SMS, within the context of ballast water exchange operations.

Norway-based Höegh Autoliners reiterated its firm position against scrubbers, as an option for compliance with the IMO's 2020 sulphur cap. In a recent interview, the company's CEO, Ivar Myklebust, said it will achieve compliance by using Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil or Low Sulphur Marine Gas Oil. 

On 23 January, the MOL-operated car carrier 'Grand Orion' called at the Port of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, and discharged about 12,000 tons of construction machinery, in the first call at a Cambodian port by an MOL-operated car carrier. Sihanoukville is Cambodia's only deep-water port and its facilities have been developed with the support of the Japanese government.

Stena Rederi, a part of Swedish shipping company Stena AB, and German Glovis Europe are to collaborate in an attempt to operate car and truck vessels in Europe. Both companies have filed documents with the European Commission's competition authorities to launch their partnership that will operate short-sea transport services on pure car and truck carrier vessels in Europe, according to Lloyd's register.

Supported by improving utilisation, car carrier shipping is expected to continue its recovery from the trough of 2016. However, increasing localisation and the threat of trade wars will slow finished vehicle cargo growth, while carrier operational efficiency will be challenged by the emergence of new trades and ports of call, says Drewry.

The ill-fated car carrier 'Makassar Highway' has been successfully towed and moored in the harbor area of Oskarshamn in the early hours of 2 August, 9 days after it ran aground off the Swedish coast, on the Baltic sea, according to the latest update by the Coast Guard. 

An underwater inspection of the Panama-flagged car carrier 'Makassar Highway', which ran aground off Sweden in the afternoon hours of Monday, showed that the vessel's hull has sustained an extensive damage, the Swedish Coast Guard informed. 

An oil spill has been reported after the Panama-flagged car carrier 'Makassar Highway' ran aground in an archipelago north of Vastervik on the Baltic Sea, in the afternoon hours of Monday, according to data provided by Swedish officials.