Thanks to Capt Arjun Deshmukh who has kindly given permission to post the following article about one of the Leader Class PCTCs, the Hercules Leader:
PCTC ‘Hercules Leader’ - By Capt. Arjun Deshmukh
The Pure Car and Truck Carrier M.V. "Hercules Leader" was built by Imabari Shipbuilding Co Ltd Marugame and delivered in October 1998. She was one of 12 sister vessels, which were ordered by Nippon Yusen Kaisha Tokyo in Imabari Shipbuilding and Shin Kurushima Shipyard. The first vessel to roll out was the "Aquarius Leader" in early 1998, to be managed by NYK Shipmanagement Tokyo. The first vessel of this class to be given to Wallem Shipmanagement Ltd for management was the "Cygnus Leader" in mid 1998.
