Norwegian shipping firm UECC has taken delivery of what it says is the world’s first LNG-powered hybrid PCTC from China’s Jiangnan Shipyard.
LNG Prime reported on this delivery earlier this month as the LNG and battery-powered Auto Advance had completed its gas trials.
Jiangnan said then it would deliver the ship to UECC on November 25.
The Norway-based joint venture consisting of NYK and Wallenius Lines said in a statement on Monday the vessel would enter service this year to boost the European shortsea ro-ro carrier’s effort to decarbonize its fleet.
Jiangnan is also moving forward with construction works on the other two LNG-powered sister vessels. Besides launching the second vessel in August, it has recently lifted the last giant block on the third newbuild to complete the hull form.
UECC expects these two vessels to join its fleet in 2022.
With an overall length of 169 meters and a width of 28 meters, the ships will have a car carrying capacity of 3,600 units on 10 cargo decks.
UECC says the LNG battery technology, together with an optimized hull design for better fuel efficiency, would enable these newbuilds to exceed the IMO requirement to cut carbon intensity by 40 percent from 2008 levels within 2030.
Also, the new vessels will enlarge the UECC dual-fuel fleet to five ships in total as it already operates two LNG-powered PCTCs but these do not feature battery power.