United European Car Carriers (UECC), which is equally owned by NYK and Wallenius Lines, took delivery of the world’s first LNG-fueled Pure Car and Truck Carrier from Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. on September 29 at the NACKS shipyard in Nantong, China.
The vessel will be named Auto Eco when reaching North Europe towards the end of November, and it is the first of two sister vessels to be delivered. These new, unique vessels are equipped with dual-fuel engines that can use either liquefied natural gas (LNG) or heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil.
Vehicles Carrier Auto Eco - Image courtesy: NYK
These vessels will be put into service in Europe, where strict sulphur emission regulations have been introduced. LNG does not emit any Sulphur Oxides (SOx) or Particulate Matter (PM) and significantly less Nitrogen Oxides (Nox) and Carbon Dioxides (CO2) compared to conventional Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) and Marine Gas Oil (MGO). Thus, these vessels will easily meet the emissions regulation.
In addition, the vessels have Finnish/Swedish ice class 1A super vessel, thus allowing for full-year trading in the Baltic area, where ice is common in winter. UECC will make every effort to improve services and reduce environmental loads through the use of these unique vessels.
- Outline of Auto Eco:
Length overall: 181 meters
Breadth: 30.00 meters
Summer molded depth: 9.60 meters
Gross tonnage: 42,424 tons
Main engine: MAN B&W 8S50ME?C8.2?GI
Total loading car capacity: 3,985 units
Source: NYK