Shipping firm Sallaum Lines has ordered one firm 8,600 CEU pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) from China Merchants Shipyard, with an option for a second vessel.

The LNG dual-fuel vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2029 and is designed to allow future conversion to ammonia propulsion, the company said in a press release issued on Tuesday. That design choice reflects a broader pattern in ship ordering, where owners are adding fuel flexibility to new tonnage while marine fuel rules and technology options continue to evolve.

The latest deal comes just weeks after Sallaum Lines placed a separate order for two firm 8,600 CEU PCTCs, with options for two more, at Xiamen Shipbuilding.

The new order brings Sallaum Lines' newbuild programme to nine vessels with a total value of more than $850 million. The programme includes four vessels already delivered, two due for delivery later this year and three scheduled for 2029.

The vessel will be capable of carrying 8,600 car equivalent units and will transport passenger vehicles, trucks, heavy equipment and other rolling cargo. For car carrier operators, added capacity and dual-fuel capability are often tied to fleet renewal as they balance cargo demand, vessel availability and emissions requirements across long delivery schedules.

“The new vessel will be LNG dual-fuel and ammonia-ready, giving us a practical solution for today and future readiness for tomorrow,” Hasan Sallaum, Managing Director at Sallaum Lines, said.

Several vessels have been ordered or delivered with ammonia-ready designs as shipowners hedge against uncertainty over future marine fuels. However, actual conversions to ammonia propulsion remain rare across the global fleet.