UECC orders LNG pure car and truck carriers

   United European Car Carriers (UECC), which is jointly owned by NYK and Wallenius Lines, has signed a contract to construct two Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs) that can optionally use LNG or heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil as fuel.
   UECC said they will be the first PCTCs to be fitted with an LNG-fuel propulsion system and will be able to complete a 14-day round voyage in the Baltic using solely LNG fuel for main engine and auxiliary power generation.
   “LNG is recognized as the cleanest and most environmentally friendly choice of fuel suitable for marine transport. The use of LNG significantly reduces CO2 emissions, as well as almost eliminating sulphur oxide emissions and other particles,” the company said in a press release.
   “The LNG installation is a pioneering design and will be one of the largest employed on a commercial vessel and the largest yet of its kind on a pure car and truck carrier,” said Glenn Edvardsen, the chief executive officer of UECC.
   Kawasaki Heavy Industries will build the ships at its joint venture NACKS shipyard in Nantong, China, and deliver them in the second half of 2016.
   The vessels will be 181 meters long and have a 30-meter beam. They will be Finnish/Swedish ice class 1A Super vessels, thus allowing for full-year trading in the Baltic area. Each ship will be capable of transporting approximately 3,800 standard-sized vehicles over its 10 decks. A significant amount of the cargo capacity can also be used to transport high and heavy cargo, in addition to cargo loaded onto MAFI trailers. The deck configuration will be optimized for both current and expected cargo mixes.
   UECC is a leading short-sea operator and logistics provider for the transportation of cars, vans, and high and heavy cargo in Europe. The company was established in 1990 and has a fleet of 23 purpose-built vessels. It transports around 1.5 million car equivalent units annually and also operates several vehicle terminals in major European ports.