China State Shipbuilding Corporation’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 2664, Jiangnan held a keel laying ceremony at its Shanghai yard on December 11.
This is the fourth LNG-powered pure truck and car carrier for UECC but also the second 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 January 2022.
UECC has currently three such newbuilds on order in China. Works on the first vessel are already in advanced stage and this vessel will join UECC’s fleet in October 2021.
Additionally, the car carrier owner expects to take the delivery of the final and third carrier in this batch towards the middle of 2022.
UECC says the battery-hybrid solution would take the firm beyond the IMO target of 40% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030.
The Oslo-based firm already operates two duel-fuel LNG PCTC ro-ro vessels, Auto Energy and Auto Eco but these ships do not feature battery power.