Global Car Carriers (GCC), controlled by MSC, has added two large LNG dual-fuel car carriers to its shipbuilding program in China. This move increases the total number of vessels under construction by GCC to 22 units.
Details of the New Shipment
GCC, formerly known as Gram Car Carriers, has ordered two car and truck carriers with a capacity of 8600 car equivalent units (ceu) from the Zhoushan Changhong International shipyard. The delivery time for these vessels is scheduled for 2030.
The new vessels, named Viking NB 21 and Viking NB 22, have been registered in the owner's fleet list, and along with 18 vessels of 8600 ceu and 4 vessels of 7000 ceu, GCC's total transport capacity reaches 182,800 vehicles. The price of this contract has not yet been announced.
Collaboration with Chinese Shipbuilder
This contract marks the entry of another Chinese manufacturer into GCC's shipbuilding program. Zhoushan Changhong is currently one of MSC's main partners in building LNG dual-fuel vessels and has multiple contracts for dual-fuel container ships with a capacity of 21,700 teu.
This new step comes just a few weeks after GCC added eight more 8600 ceu vessels to its program at the China Merchants' Weihai, Guangzhou Shipyard International, and Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding shipyards, bringing the total value of this program to over $2 billion.
Recent Developments in GCC
In July, GCC had 12 new vessels under construction. Now, all of GCC's ordered fleet is concentrated in Chinese shipyards, with delivery times scheduled between 2028 and 2030.
The expansion of GCC's shipbuilding program has accelerated since MSC's purchase of Gram Car Carriers in 2024 for approximately $700 million. The Aponte-controlled group privatized the company after this purchase and changed the name from Gram to Global Car Carriers.
