FOLLOWING its successful USD 300 million private capital raising earlier this month, Wallenius Wilhelmsen has confirmed orders for four more of its 9,900 CEU Shaper class PCTCs and reserved slots for eight more.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen reached agreement with its preferred builder, Jinling Shipyard (Jiangsu), for delivery of the first four LNG dual-fuel units from mid-2030 with options for four additional vessels in 2031 and a further four in 2032. Assuming all options are exercised, the total capex is expected to be around USD 1.5 billion.
The new vessels will strengthen operational flexibility across the company’s global network, helping Wallenius Wilhelmsen respond to evolving customer needs while further developing its leading position in the deep-sea ro-ro market, the company says.
“We continue to see attractive opportunities in the segments we serve and want to ensure we have the capacity, flexibility and efficiency needed to support our customers well into the next decades,” said Xavier Leroi, chief operating officer shipping services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen.
“Expanding our newbuilding program with deliveries from 2030 reflects our confidence in the long-term fundamentals of the market. We are investing now to ensure we can continue to grow with our customers while further developing our leading position in deep-sea ro-ro.”
The investment builds on Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s ongoing Shaper class fleet renewal program, with vessels already being delivered and entering service.
Together, the vessels will modernise the fleet, add capacity and strengthen operational flexibility across the company’s global network.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen appears to have chosen to concentrate on the 9,900 CEU Shapers, rather than the extended version listed at 11,700 CEU, of which four are on order.
The first of the 9,900 CEU Shapers, Arctic Tern, was allocated to subsidiary EUKOR and delivered in July. On 13 October it was followed by sister Royal Tern. A third, Elegant Tern, has been launched.