XSI starts work on Santoku Senpaku’s LNG-powered PCTC

China’s Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry (XSI) has started building one LNG-powered pure car and truck carrier for Japan’s Santoku Senpaku.

XSI said in a statement it held on March 5 a steel-cutting ceremony for the LNG dual-fuel PCTC (XSI463K) with a capacity of 7,500 ceu.

Also, the ceremony was attended by representatives from Santoku Senpaku, ABS, and Cosco’s JV Guangzhou Ocean Car Carrier Transportation.

The shipbuilder said this is the first vessel in a series of LNG-powered PCTCs for Santoku Senpaku.

According to XSI, the vessel will be 199.9 meters long, 38 meters wide, and will also have a design draft of 8.6 meters.

The ship will be equipped with a total of 13 car decks, of which 9 are fixed and 4 are movable.

Guangzhou Ocean Car Carrier Transportation joined forces with Santoku Senpaku to order six LNG-powered PCTCs in December 2022.

Santoku Senpaku probably chartered these vessels to the JV formed by by Cosco Shipping Specialized Carriers, Shanghai International Port Group Logistics (SIPGL), and SAIC Anji Logistics.

Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding and XSI will build these dual-fuel LNG-powered PCTCs with a capacity of 7,500 units, XSI previously said.

Both XSI and Fujian Mawei are part of Fujian Shipbuilding Industry Group.