UECC takes delivery of world’s first LNG-powered PCTC vessel

United European Car Carriers, a joint venture between ocean carriers NYK and Wallenius Lines, received the world’s first pure car and truck carrier capable of running on liquified natural gas from Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., NYK said in a statement.    United European Car Carriers (UECC) yesterday took delivery of the world’s first LNG-fueled pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) capable of being powered entirely by liquified natural gas.
   UECC, a joint venture between ocean carriers NYK and Wallenius Lines, purchased the LNG-fueled vessel from Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., NYK said in a statement.
   The ship, called the Auto Eco, is the first of two sister vessels equipped with dual-fuel engines that allow it to switch between LNG and heavy fuel oil or marine gas oil.
   The Auto Eco measures 181 meters in length with a gross deadweight of 42,424 tons and the capacity to carry a total of 3,985 cars and trucks. In addition, the ships are classified as Finnish/Swedish ice class 1A super vessels, allowing them to be deployed year round in the Baltic area, where ice is common in winter.
   UECC said the vessels will be put into service in Europe, where stricter sulphur emission regulations have been introduced in recent years. LNG does not emit any sulphur oxides or particulate matter, and emits significantly fewer nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxides compared with conventional heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil.