"Eco-Friendly Car Carrier Arrives at Pyeongtaek Port: Arctic Tern Makes Maiden Call with Capacity for 9,300 Vehicles"

Pyeongtaek Port Welcomes Its First Next-Generation Eco-Friendly Car Carrier
Emerging as a Global Hub for Eco-Friendly Automotive Logistics
Arctic Tern, an 86,000-Ton Vessel, Makes Maiden Call at Pyeongtaek Port

Pyeongtaek Port in Gyeonggi Province is stepping up as a global hub for automobile logistics. With the arrival of a next-generation eco-friendly car carrier capable of transporting 9,300 passenger vehicles at once, the port's competitiveness in automotive imports and exports is once again in the spotlight.

The next-generation eco-friendly car carrier ship "Arctic Tern," operated by the global automobile transportation company Ukoca Carriers Co., Ltd., made its maiden call at Pyeongtaek Port International Automobile Terminal on the 22nd. Provided by Pyeongtaek Port Authority

On July 23, Pyeongtaek Port Authority announced that “Arctic Tern,” the next-generation eco-friendly car carrier operated by Yukoka Carriers Co., Ltd., a global specialist in automobile transportation, made its maiden call at the Pyeongtaek Port International Car Terminal on the 22nd.

“Arctic Tern” is the first vessel in the Shaper Class series of next-generation car carriers unveiled by global automobile logistics company Wallenius Wilhelmsen. It is the newest ship to be deployed on the Asia-Europe automobile transport route.

Measuring 228 meters in length and 38 meters in width with a gross tonnage of 86,200 tons, the vessel has a deadweight tonnage of 15,750 tons. Notably, it boasts a loading capacity of 9,300 CEUs, enabling the simultaneous transportation of approximately 9,300 standard passenger vehicles.

This arrival demonstrates that Pyeongtaek Port has secured the ability to respond to global trends in the shipping industry, specifically “fleet upsizing” and the shift toward “eco-friendly transformation.”

The “Arctic Tern” is equipped with a dual-fuel propulsion system that can use both conventional marine fuel and methanol. Methanol is considered an eco-friendly alternative fuel because it contains little sulfur and can significantly reduce air pollutants such as sulfur oxides and particulate matter compared to traditional fuels.

If eco-friendly methanol produced from renewable energy or biomass is used in the future, greenhouse gas reduction can be expected not only during vessel operations but also throughout the entire fuel production process.

Pyeongtaek Port has already established itself as a key hub for automotive logistics in Korea. In 2025, the port handled 1,616,086 vehicles, recording the largest automotive import and export cargo volume in the nation. By reliably processing both export vehicles from Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, and other domestic automakers, as well as imported car shipments, it has grown into Korea’s leading automotive port.

Pyeongtaek Port’s East Terminal Berths 2–5, dedicated to vehicle handling, feature a 1,110-meter-long quay capable of accommodating 30,000–50,000 deadweight tonnage vessels. Pyeongtaek Port Authority plans to strengthen its cooperation with global car carrier companies and enhance port competitiveness to attract more eco-friendly vessels.

The next-generation eco-friendly car carrier "Arctic Tern," operated by the global automobile transport specialist UCOCAR CARRIERS Co., Ltd., made its first call at Pyeongtaek Port International Automobile Terminal on the 22nd. Provided by Pyeongtaek Port Authority

Yukoka Carriers Co., Ltd. is a specialized car carrier company owned 80% by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and 20% by Hyundai Motor Group. The company transports automobiles, construction machinery, and other self-propelled cargo worldwide by sea.

Xavier Leroy, CEO of Yukoka Carriers, stated, “Pyeongtaek Port is a central hub for global automotive logistics and is a very important market for Yukoka Carriers. We will provide even more efficient and reliable transport services to automobile manufacturers and logistics customers.”

Kim Geumgyu, Acting President of Pyeongtaek Port Authority, said, “The first call of the ‘Arctic Tern’ at Pyeongtaek Port demonstrates the port’s competitiveness in meeting the trends of larger vessels and eco-friendly transformation in the automotive maritime transport market. We will actively attract next-generation vessels from global carriers and expand the port’s capacity to handle automotive cargo and support the entry and departure of eco-friendly ships.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.