CAR CARRIERS THE UNSUNG CARGO VESSELS

In 2019 17 million cars and trucks were carried as cargo aboard Pure Car Carriers (PCCs) and their close siblings, the Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC). Around 700 of these giant, floating multi-storey car parks tramp the world’s oceans, many with capacities for over 5,000 vehicles stored on 12 or 13 decks. Who would have thought that Ford Ranger Trucks and BMWs built in South Africa, or Volkswagens produced in Mexico would supply markets in Europe?

In the early days, long-haul automobile exports were undertaken on bulk cargo vessels fitted with portable or hinge-away platforms, and loading and discharge was slow, undertaken by the ship’s own cranes and derricks. However, rapidly rising demand required the building of purpose and , the first two specialist vessels with added extra decks for the transportation of vehicles.