Wallenius Wilhelmsen has taken delivery of ARCTIC TERN, the first vessel in its new Shaper Class series, marking a significant milestone in the company’s fleet renewal and decarbonisation strategy.
The 228-metre Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) has a capacity to transport 9,350 vehicles and will be deployed through EUKOR Car Carriers, the jointly owned shipping line of Hyundai Motor Group and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. The vessel is set to enter service on the Asia–Europe trade route almost immediately after delivery.
Designed as a dual-fuel, methanol-ready vessel, ARCTIC TERN is expected to complete its first methanol bunkering shortly after entering service, supporting Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s transition towards lower-emission shipping operations.
Commenting on the delivery, Xavier Leroi, COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen and CEO of EUKOR Car Carriers, said the vessel represents the company’s commitment to investing in the future of sustainable shipping.
“As the first vessel in our new Shaper Class series, ARCTIC TERN reflects our commitment to investing in the future of shipping,” Leroi said, adding that the Shaper Class is a key element in the company’s ambition to provide net-zero end-to-end logistics services by 2027.
The vessel also introduces a new naming convention for the series, with ships named after birds renowned for their long-distance migrations. ARCTIC TERN is the first of 14 Shaper Class vessels planned for delivery.
The remaining vessels in the series will further expand the fleet’s capabilities, with the final eight ships measuring 234 metres in length and offering a record-breaking vehicle capacity of 12,100 cars, making them among the largest car carriers ever built.
The introduction of the Shaper Class underscores Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s continued investment in next-generation, environmentally advanced vessels to meet the growing demand for sustainable global automotive logistics.
