UECC orders battery hybrid LNG car carriers

United European Car Carriers (UECC), jointly owned by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and Wallenius Lines, has signed a contract to construct two battery hybrid LNG PCTCs with China Ship Building Trading and Jiangnan Shipyard Group.

The newbuilding contract also has options for two additional vessels, and the first vessel is planned for delivery in 2021, UECC said on Tuesday.

The battery hybrid LNG solution which will place UECC beyond IMO’s target for a 40 percent reduction in carbon intensity by 2030.

The vessels will have a length overall of 169 meters, a width of 28 meters and a car carrying capacity of 3 600 units on 10 cargo decks, of which 2 decks are hoistable.

The vessels will have a quarter ramp of 160 metric tons safe working load and a side ramp of 20 metric tons safe working load and can accommodate cargo units up to 5.2 meters high.

The vessels will meet the Tier 3 IMO NOx emission limitations coming into force the Baltic and the North Sea from 2021. In respect of the 2021 CO2 reduction regulations, the vessels will also be equipped with dual-fuel LNG engines for main propulsion and auxiliaries.

As more biofuels are set to become commercially available in the future, UECC aims to also use carbon neutral and synthetic fuels as part of our future fuel mix.

“In our strategy, we take a long-term view,” UECC’s CEO, Glenn Edvardsen said, “and that’s why we go for a battery hybrid LNG fuel solution on our newbuildings.”