China-based shipyard CIMC Raffles has secured an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract from Sweden-based shipping firm Wallenius Lines for six pure car carrier (PCC) vessels.

The vessels will be built at the company’s Longkou shipyard in Yantai, China.

According to CIMC Raffles, the initial contract covers the first two vessels as well as two options for additional vessels, which would include two ships each.

The companies have not disclosed the value of the contract.

The Swedish-flagged vessels will feature 6,500 car equivalent unit (CEU) capacity and be installed with one Type C liquefied natural gas (LNG) tank for gas-powered operation.

Denmark’s naval architect Knud E Hansen (KEH) was responsible for the concept development of the 200m-long and 37m-wide vessels.

KEH will oversee the development of the basic design in partnership with the CIMC Offshore Engineering Institute (OEI) team.

Detailed engineering and shop engineering will be implemented by CIMC Raffles OEI.

CIMC Raffles CEO and president Wang Jianzhong said: “Global emission cut and low carbon trend are the new requirement of the clean energy industry. We have invested in the world’s most advanced Laser plus Arc welding production line with proven RoRo vessels’ application and delivery as RoRo/PCTC vessel is one of key business segments.”

In 2019, CIMC Raffles secured a contract from Australia’s Global Energy Ventures to build up to eight compressed natural gas (CNG) carriers.

The contract included a definitive order for four CNG Optimum 200 million standard cubic feet ships, as well as an option to construct four further vessels.