Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has placed an order for four LNG-fuelled car carriers at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing), expanding its investment in low-emission vessel technology for the European automotive logistics market.
The newbuildings will be operated by K Line European Sea Highway Services GmbH (KESS), the company’s wholly owned subsidiary specialising in short-sea and coastal transportation of finished vehicles throughout Europe.
Designed specifically for regional European trades, the vessels will have a length of approximately 130 metres and a carrying capacity of around 1,380 vehicles. Each ship will be built to Ice Class 1A standards, allowing year-round operations in northern European waters where seasonal ice conditions can affect shipping.
K Line said the vessels have been tailored to meet the operational requirements of the European short-sea market, where frequent sailings, smaller shipment volumes and port infrastructure constraints require greater flexibility than traditional deep-sea car carriers.
The ships are also designed to comply with size limitations at several European vehicle-import terminals, enabling access to ports that cannot accommodate larger pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs).
Each vessel will feature a straight stern ramp with a lifting capacity of 60 tonnes. The enhanced ramp capability will allow the vessels to handle not only passenger vehicles but also heavy rolling cargo, oversized equipment and other project cargoes, increasing operational versatility.
The order reflects continuing demand for specialised vehicle carriers despite recent volatility in global automotive supply chains. European vehicle imports and exports, particularly electric vehicles, continue to drive demand for efficient short-sea transport solutions connecting production centres, distribution hubs and consumer markets.
The four vessels will be equipped with dual-fuel engines capable of operating on LNG, which offers lower emissions of sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide compared with conventional marine fuels.
K Line also indicated that the ships may utilise renewable fuel alternatives, including bio-LNG and liquefied biomethane, as part of the group’s broader strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support its long-term decarbonisation targets.
The order highlights the growing role of LNG and renewable gas fuels in the vehicle carrier sector as operators seek practical pathways toward compliance with increasingly stringent environmental regulations in European waters.
Delivery dates for the vessels have not yet been disclosed.
