THE FIRST of Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s future-facing new Shaper-class PCTCs has been delivered, and allocated to the company’s joint venture with Hyundai and Kia, EUKOR Car Carriers.
Arctic Tern marks a new chapter in sustainable shipping, Wallenius Wilhelmsen says, and a significant milestone in the company's fleet renewal journey. With dual-fuel capability, methanol readiness and enhanced operational efficiency, Arctic Tern supports customers’ growing demand for more sustainable and future-ready logistics solutions.
“The delivery of Arctic Tern is a defining moment for Wallenius Wilhelmsen. The vessel will be deployed through EUKOR Car Carriers, the jointly owned shipping line of Hyundai Moter Group and Wallenius Wilhelmsen.
“As the first vessel in our new Shaper Class series, Arctic Tern reflects our commitment to investing in the future of shipping,” Xavier Leroi, COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen, who also serves as CEO of EUKOR Car Carriers, said.
“With greater cargo transport capacity, improved fuel efficiency and flexibility, the Shaper Class strengthens the company’s ability to meet evolving customer needs while supporting lower-emission shipping.”
Arctic Tern will enter service between Asia and Europe almost immediately, and is expected to complete its first methanol bunkering shortly after delivery, marking another step in WW’s decarbonisation journey.
“These vessels strengthen our ability to deliver reliable and efficient services to customers while supporting the transition towards lower-emission operations. They are also a critical building block in our ambition to offer net-zero end-to-end services as early as 2027. It is a milestone that reflects both our ambitions for the future and our determination to turn those ambitions into action,” Mr Leroi said.
The delivery of Arctic Tern also marks the beginning of a new naming tradition for Wallenius Wilhelmsen's Shaper Class series. Inspired by birds renowned for their remarkable journeys across the globe, the names reflect the endurance, adaptability and global connectivity that have long defined shipping.
The first vessel is named after a seabird that undertakes the longest migration of any species on Earth and, WW says, embodies the spirit of a vessel designed to connect markets, create value for customers and help shape the future of shipping.
The company says Arctic Tern is also the first of delivery by a project that has brought together the expertise of the owners — Wallenius and Wilhelmsen, building on long-standing relationships that have been strengthened even further — Wallenius Marine, which oversaw site management and delivery readiness at the shipyard — while Wilhelmsen Ship Management prepared the vessel for commercial operation and will assume responsibility for ship management after delivery.