China’s Jiangnan Shipyard has started building another LNG-powered vessel for Norway-based United European Car Carriers.
To mark the construction start of UECC’s hull number 2665, Jiangnan held a keel-laying ceremony at its Shanghai yard on Wednesday.
This is the fifth LNG-powered pure truck and car carrier for UECC but also the third featuring battery power to improve operational efficiency and further reduce emissions.
The joint venture consisting of NYK and Wallenius Lines expects to take delivery of this hybrid LNG-powered newbuilding for short sea trade in the first half of 2022.
UECC has currently three LNG-powered newbuilds on order in China. Jiangnan has already launched the first ship in this batch and this vessel will join UECC’s fleet later this year.
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.
The Oslo-based shipping firm says the battery-hybrid solution would take it beyond the IMO target of 40% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030.
UECC already operates two duel-fuel LNG PCTC ro-ro vessels, Auto Energy and Auto Eco, but these ships do not feature battery power.