Bahri, the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia, announced on July 21 that its scheduled shipping arm Bahri Line has signed a shipbuilding agreement with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard for two LNG dual-fuel RoCon vessels, with an option for two additional units. If exercised, the programme will expand to four vessels. 

The newbuildings are designed around Bahri Line’s long-term experience in global liner operations, combining container and roll-on/roll-off cargo capabilities in a single platform.

The vessels will feature enhanced container stacking capacity together with hoistable decks, allowing flexible cargo configurations between containerised cargo, vehicles and other rolling cargo. The design aims to improve cargo intake efficiency and provide greater operational flexibility for transporting diversified cargo flows. 

The vessels will be powered by LNG dual-fuel propulsion systems and equipped with advanced energy-saving technologies. According to Bahri, the new ships are expected to achieve around 10% higher efficiency compared with the company’s existing fleet. 

The ships will also be fitted with Alternative Marine Power (AMP) systems, enabling them to connect to shore-side electricity during port stays. This allows onboard engines to be switched off while alongside, reducing emissions during port operations and supporting compliance with increasingly stringent environmental requirements worldwide. 

Beyond propulsion and energy efficiency improvements, the vessels will incorporate upgraded accommodation standards to enhance crew comfort and wellbeing, reflecting Bahri Line’s focus on operational reliability and seafarer welfare. 

The new RoCon vessels will further strengthen Bahri Line’s scheduled shipping network connecting the Middle East with Asia-Pacific and European markets. The investment forms part of Bahri’s broader fleet modernisation strategy, as the company seeks to expand its role in integrated maritime logistics while transitioning towards lower-emission shipping solutions. 

China Merchants Jinling Shipyard has become one of the leading builders of specialised commercial vessels, particularly in the Ro-Ro and complex cargo vessel segments, and has secured a growing number of orders related to vehicle logistics and low-carbon shipping.