Heavy Lift — 2026-08-28
Maritime and Ports
DNV’s Maritime Forecast to 2050 report said that while global shipping navigates regulatory uncertainty around the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Net-Zero Framework, pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) operators are making stringent efforts to tackle the ‘greening’ challenges.
Data from DNV, which breaks down decarbonisation take-up across different maritime segments, reveals that 26 per cent of the global PCTC fleet – either in operation or currently on order – is already capable of running on alternative fuels.
Proactive adopters
This figure vastly outpaces the broader bulk carrier segment, where alternative fuel adoption remains at just 1.1 percent, and far exceeds the total global merchant fleet average of 5.2 percent on a gross tonnage basis. “The segment has become one of the most proactive adopters of energy-efficiency technologies,” according to the report.
Citing the example of Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s Shaper-class vessels using air lubrication systems (ALS), it adds: “Newbuilds frequently incorporate ALS, which pair well with the design operation of car carriers. Enhanced hull forms, aerodynamic design, and improved hydrodynamic appendages contribute to efficiency.”
A major catalyst behind this rapid transition is commercial pressure from automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Facing strict Scope 3 emissions reporting mandates and high public brand exposure, carmakers are proving far more willing to pay premium charter rates for low-carbon sea transport compared to traditional commodity shippers.
Highlighting the broader industry trajectory, Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, chief executive at DNV Maritime, said: “The stage is set for the next phase of the maritime energy transition… It is already influencing investment decisions, operational choices and fuel strategies across the industry.”
‘Stage set for next phase’
To capture this demand and meet strict climate rules, PCTC owners are putting those strategies into action by placing heavy orders for dual-fuel LNG and methanol vessels.
A key milestone highlighted in the report is China Merchants Energy Shipping’s CM Hong Kong vessel, the world’s first methanol-capable PCTC.
Because methanol and ethanol operate similarly in dual-fuel engines, these groundbreaking alcohol-powered ships also open the door for operators to easily adopt bio-ethanol as supply grows.