Gasgoo Munich-A 10,800-car pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) built by CSSC's Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in partnership with CSSC Trading was named and delivered in Nansha, Guangzhou. This marks the third vessel of its class delivered by China, signaling the country's capacity for mass and series production in this sector.
The delivered PCTC measures 230 meters in length and 40 meters in width, with a design draft of 10.5 meters, and is powered by an LNG/fuel dual-fuel propulsion system. It features 14 garage decks capable of flexibly loading electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered cars, and heavy trucks, with a maximum capacity of 10,800 units. If the vehicles were lined up bumper-to-bumper based on a standard 5-meter length, they would stretch more than 50 kilometers.
On the technology front, the ship is equipped with a suite of proprietary green and smart systems. A 1,450 kW permanent magnet shaft generator, developed independently by the CSSC 704 Research Institute, allows for power generation while sailing, reducing energy consumption. The vessel also incorporates energy-saving technologies such as optimized hull lines, exhaust waste heat recovery, and a high-voltage shore power system. An intelligent ship management system handles navigation, engine room operations, and cargo monitoring.
Compared to sister ships already in service, this vessel features an upgraded smart control system, including an intelligent visual security system for the garage, a 360° panoramic view system, and an R6 navigation system. Following delivery, the ship will be chartered by a South Korean logistics company to handle automotive trade routes between Asia, Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe.
As global automotive trade demand continues to grow, China's vehicle exports are climbing rapidly. In April, exports reached 940,000 units, up 52% year-on-year, followed by 930,000 units in May, a 68.7% jump. This robust export demand has directly driven the need for PCTC capacity, leaving a significant gap in shipping capacity.
As a leading global builder of PCTCs, GSI has secured more than 40 orders to date, including 14 of the 10,800-car dual-fuel vessels. The shipyard has successfully delivered 26 units so far, with a contract backlog worth 100 billion yuan and production scheduled through 2030. All 26 delivered ships were completed ahead of schedule; notably, the 11 vessels scheduled for delivery in 2025 are tracking an average of 151 days ahead of their contractual deadlines.
