China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s Jiangnan Shipyard is moving forward with the construction of an LNG-powered car carrier for Norway-based United European Car Carriers.
This is the third LNG-powered pure truck and car carrier for UECC but also the first featuring battery power to improve operational efficiency and further reduce emissions.
UECC said in a construction update that the newbuild recently received its LNG tank, as can be seen in the image above.
The joint venture consisting of NYK and Wallenius Lines expects to take delivery of the first hybrid LNG-powered newbuilding for short sea trade in the second half of 2021.
UECC has three such newbuilds on order in China. The firm expects the two other vessels to join its fleet in early 2022 and towards the middle of 2022, respectively.
The shipping company previously said the battery-hybrid solution would take the firm beyond the IMO target of 40% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030.
Furthermore, the new vessels will enlarge the UECC dual-fuel LNG fleet to five ships in total.
