LNG-battery hybrid vessel delivered to UECC
Norwegian-based United European Car Carriers said November 29 it secured delivery of the first-ever pure car and truck-carrying vessel powered both by battery and liquefied natural gas.
United European Car Carriers (UECC) said the pure car and truck carrier (PCTC)-class vessel was delivered from China’s Jiangnan shipyard and will be christened Auto Advance, the first of three in a series of newbuild, dual-powered ships.
Advertisement: The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC) NGC’s HSSE strategy is reflective and supportive of the organisational vision to become a leader in the global energy business. |
UECC said the LNG-battery hybrid, along with a hull designed for improved fuel efficiency, will enable this class of newbuilds to exceed requirements from the International Maritime Shipping Orgnisation of having the global fleet cut its carbon intensity by 40% from their 2008 levels by 2030.
UECC envisions a 25% reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide, a 90% cut in sulphur oxides and particulate matter and an 85% decline in nitrogen oxides using the hybrid technology.
Daniel Gent, the energy and sustainability manager at UECC, said LNG may be the most widely available, low-carbon fuel on the market.
“We are therefore taking advantage of the best available fuel solution now and combining this with hybrid technology to further cut emissions,” he said. “But we are not locked into LNG and these dual-fuel engines are also ready to use alternative low-emission fuels such as biofuel, bio-LNG and synthetic LNG as these become commercially and technically viable.”
Auto Advance, which left the shipyard in August,will be followed by its sister ships next year.