• April 15, 2021
• Environment, Markets, News, Shipping

LNG battery hybrid prior to launch

The Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai has launched the first of three LNG battery hybrid PCTCs (pure car truck carriers) commissioned by United European Car Carriers (UECC), which is owned in equal shares by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) of Tokyo and Wallenius Lines of Stockholm.

“With the launch of our first LNG battery hybrid PCTC, we are ushering in a new era for UECC and short sea shipping in Europe,” says Glenn Edvardsen, CEO in UECC. “These ships prove that decarbonization of the industry is possible using currently available technologies.”

With a length overall of 169 meters, a width of 28 meters and a car carrying capacity of 3,600 units on 10 cargo decks, the new vessels are highly flexible, enabling them to accommodate a wide range of high & heavy and break-bulk cargoes, in addition to cars and trucks.

The new UECC PCTCs meet the Tier 3 IMO NOx emission limitations in place for the Baltic and North Sea. All three will be equipped with battery hybrid solutions that will enable UECC to far exceed the IMO’s target of 40 percent reduction in carbon intensity by 2030.

“The introduction of batteries is an excellent demonstration of our deepening commitment to next-generation sustainability,” Edvardsen says. Battery power on the new vessels will improve operational efficiency and reduce emissions through peak shaving, in addition to handling partial accommodation load and driving auxiliary equipment.

“Battery power also provides an option for reducing emissions while in port, a feature that more and more cities are demanding,” Edvardsen notes.

The ships are also equipped with dual-fuel LNG main propulsion and auxiliary engines.

As more biofuels become commercially available in the future, UECC plans to increase the proportion of carbon neutral and synthetic fuels in its future fuel mix. “We aim to be in front of the move to sustainability in shipping,” says Edvardsen. “This is the motivation behind our decision to invest in dual-fuel solutions for these newbuildings.”

“UECC’s parent companies, NYK and Wallenius Lines, have sustainability in their DNA,” Edvardsen says. “We are proud to be able to take UECC to the next level of sustainable shipping with their support.”