UECC and Titan sign ‘major’ biomethane agreement

Norway-based RoRo transportation provider United European Car Carriers (UECC) and Dutch marine fuels supplier Titan Clean Fuels (Titan) have penned a new agreement under which Titan is set to supply liquefied gas, primarily biomethane (LBM/bio LNG), to the former’s multi-fuel ships.

Under the agreement, Titan is set to provide ISCC-EU certified mass balanced LBM for bunkering at the Port of Zeebrugge to fuel UECC’s five dual-fuel LNG Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTC) operating in the European shortsea trade under the supply contract covering the rest of this year and 2025 when a minimum of 12,000 tons of LBM will be supplied.

According to UECC’s estimate, the use of LBM could eliminate another 75,000 tons of its global Scope 1 well-to-wake emissions from ship operations of approximately 220,000 tonnes per year. This is said to follow a 250% year-on-year reduction in tank-to-wake emissions of 60,000 tonnes last year, driven largely by increased use of biofuels, as well as LNG.

It is understood that this deal expands upon UECC and Titan’s ongoing commitment to using liquefied biomethane, or LBM.

According to the companies, since the beginning of July this year, over 95% of the fuel delivered to UECC’s pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) by Titan has been LBM, which has resulted in avoiding more than 30,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions thus far.

Back in July, UECC and Titan revealed that the PCTC would use 100% LBM as part of the former’s ‘Green Gas Month’ – an initiative envisioned to support its wider ‘Sail for Change’ sustainability program. In Green Gas Month, UECC calculated that well-to-wake emissions reductions might exceed 8,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Daniel Gent, Energy & Sustainability Manager at UECC, commented: “Through our CO2 registry, this agreement offers our customers the opportunity to reduce their scope three emissions, and we appreciate those that have already jumped at the offer.”

“The engagement in Sail for Change from our customers, alongside Titan’s in-depth expertise in clean fuel supply and bunkering, has allowed us to almost entirely transition from LNG to LBM, and to swiftly scale up our use of biomethane. With this expansion, we look forward to hearing from more customers who want to reduce their scope three emissions and use sustainable shipping services today,” Gent further remarked.

Gent pointed out that UEEC also aims to achieve 20% use of LBM, as well as 17% use of biofuels and 20% use of LNG, across its current 15-vessel fleet by 2030 when it anticipates alternative fuel use to reach 55%.

Using LBM over oil-based fuels is also believed to eradicate harmful local emissions like black soot and other particular matters (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx) as well as sulfur oxides (SOx).

What is more, UECC is reportedly seeing how it could produce e-methane using renewable electricity and electrolysis which is targeted to meet 10% of its gas demand in 2025.

The transition to biomethane, in particular, is in line with UECC’s ‘Sail for Change’ strategy, the company highlighted, as it is anticipated to exceed its carbon intensity targets, which rely on the same metric as the FuelEU Maritime regulation. In fact, the use of LBM is projected to help UECC achieve ‘full compliance’ with this regulation across its fleet.

“The LBM delivery scale and consistency we’re able to achieve is, in part, thanks to robust mass balancing processes and related liquefaction LNG terminal infrastructure in the region. It’s now time for the whole of Europe and the world to follow suit,” Caspar Gooren, Commercial Director Renewable Fuels at Titan, remarked.

“Looking ahead, both Titan and UECC are aligned on the need to geographically expand biomethane supply and diversify waste feedstocks to ensure certified LBM is accessible to those in shipping that want and need it.”

The new development comes a month after UECC placed an order for up to four multi-fuel battery hybrid PCTCs. The contract for the newbuildings was signed with shipbuilder China Merchants Jinling Shipyard Nanjing and it covered two firm vessels scheduled for delivery in 2028, with options for two more units.

As informed, these ships would have multi-fuel LNG-powered engines, an aerodynamic hull design, as well as shore power capability and solar panels installed on the top deck.

This article was amended on December 9 at 14:53h to state additional information.