United European Car Carriers (UECC), which is equally owned by NYK and Wallenius Lines, took delivery of the world’s first LNG-fuelled Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) from Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. on September 29 at the NACKS shipyard in Nantong, China.
The vessel will be named “Auto Eco” when it reaches North Europe towards the end of November, and it is the first of two sister vessels to be delivered. The new vessels are equipped with dual-fuel engines that can use either liquefied natural gas (LNG) or heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil.
The vessels will be put into service in Europe, where strict sulphur emission regulations have been introduced. LNG does not emit any Sulphur Oxides or Particulate Matter and significantly less Nitrogen Oxides and Carbon Dioxides compared to conventional Heavy Fuel Oil and Marine Gas Oil. Thus, the vessels will meet emissions regulations.
In addition, the vessels have Finnish/Swedish ice class 1A Super classification, thus allowing for full-year trading in the Baltic area, where sea ice is common in winter. UECC will make every effort to improve services and reduce environmental loads through the use of these unique vessels.
The Auto Eco vessel is 181 m in length, with a beam of 30 m, and a gross tonnage of 42,424 tons. Its total car capacity is 3,985 units.
Source: NYK
