Oslo: Oslo-listed Norwegian Car Carriers has signed a contract with Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries for the construction of two 6500 ceu car carriers.
Delivery from the South Korean shipyard is scheduled for between the fourth quarter 2016 and first quarter 2017, and there is an option included for two additional vessels.
Olav Sollie, the ceo of Norwegian Car Carriers, told Splash that the company will wait before they will look for employment for the carriers. He also revealed that the company is looking to continue its fleet expansion, looking both at the secondhand market and newbuilds.
“The secondhand market is difficult, as few candidates in the same segment exists,” he explains.
Sollie says the vessels ordered are based on the same design as the 2012-built 6,500 ceu NOCC Oceanic, which has a 150 ton ramp and 4 hoistable cargo decks. The new ships are upgraded and modernised to fit new requirements, he added.
The company currently operates a fleet of 10 car carriers and a single ro-ro vessel, with the car carriers all in the range of 4,000–7, 000 ceu.