Wallenius Lines adds car carrier brace

Swedish shipping company Wallenius Lines has bolstered its fleet by acquiring two vessels from Norwegian operator Wallenius Wilhelmsen. The newly added ships, the Don Juan and Turandot, enhance the company’s maritime capabilities and readiness to support both societal needs and the Armed Forces. This strategic move brings Wallenius Lines’ total fleet to eight vessels.

Strengthening Maritime Expertise and Sustainability

Under the leadership of CEO Erik Nøklebye, Wallenius Lines aims to strengthen Sweden’s maritime expertise through this acquisition. The Don Juan, built in 1995, has a cargo capacity of 5,846 car equivalent units (ceu), while the Turandot is also set to meet modern shipping demands. Nøklebye emphasized the importance of sustainability, stating that utilizing existing assets throughout their service life is crucial. With the right fuel mix, these vessels can operate efficiently for many years to come.

The Don Juan is expected to enter charter service in Asia following its arrival in early September, while the Turandot is scheduled to commence operations around the start of the new year. Both vessels will continue to be managed technically by Wallenius Marine, ensuring that they are maintained to the highest standards.

Wallenius Lines is part of the Soya Group and has interests in several significant shipping ventures. The company co-owns the short-sea car carrier operator United European Car Carriers (UECC) with Japan’s Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and holds a majority stake in Oslo-listed Wallenius Wilhelmsen alongside Wilh. Wilhelmsen. This latest fleet expansion follows last year’s addition of three ships, which included a car carrier from Hoegh Autoliners and two roll-on/roll-off vessels from Wallenius SOL, a joint venture with Svenska Orient Linien.