UECC deploys brand-new LNG dual-fuel PCTC on key European route

December 11, 2024, by Naida Hakirevic Prevljak

Norway-based RoRo transportation provider United European Car Carriers (UECC) has further expanded its fleet of eco-friendly car carriers with the addition of the dual-fuel LNG newbuild Blue Aspire.

Data provided by VesselsValue indicates that the pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) is owned by Japanese shipowner Mizuho Sangyo which acquired the vessel from UK’s Zodiac Maritime earlier this year.

Built and recently delivered by CIMC Raffles Offshore Engineering (CIMC Raffles) in Yantai, China, Blue Aspire has a capacity for nearly 7,000 vehicles on 12 cargo decks including four hoistable decks suitable for high & heavy (H&H) cargoes, with a stern ramp capability of 250 tons.

UECC said that the newbuild is set to boost vessel capacity on its key European North-South trading network from mid-December this year. The company will operate the vessel together with another five units on a route between the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, traversing the Turkish ports of Yenikoy and Autoport, the German Port of Cuxhaven, and Belgium’s Port of Zeebrugge every 4.5 days.

“Deployment of the Blue Aspire will boost tremendously capacity and sailing frequency on this busy trade route, currently serviced by five vessels, while further enhancing the sustainability of the UECC fleet,” Per Christian Mørk, UECC’s CEO, commented.

The latest fleet addition will increase to six the number of UECC-operated vessels plying the North-South network, taking in a total of 10 ports on two routes, after the recent deployment of the renamed Auto Way that was acquired by UECC’s joint owner Wallenius Lines from Höegh Autoliners earlier this year.

It will also boost the size of UECC’s owned and chartered fleet to 15 PCTCs, including five dual and multi-fuel LNG vessels – three with battery hybrid capability – delivered in the past decade, with another two multi-fuel LNG newbuilds currently on order that are set for delivery in 2028 and options for two similar units.

“We are expanding our fleet with greater capacity and cargo-carrying flexibility to provide a more efficient service for clients in response to increasing demand as we see longer-term growth potential in this market,” Mørk explained.

He added that sustainability is now a key priority in the procurement of maritime transport services to meet the environmental goals of vehicle manufacturers amid new green regulations – including FuelEU Maritime and the EU ETS – that provide a commercial incentive to reduce the cost of GHG emissions.

“UECC is catering to this market requirement with an eco-friendly fleet geared to minimizing the environmental footprint of vessel operations with progressive reductions in carbon intensity, in line with regulation, through adoption of energy-efficient technologies and alternative fuels,” Mørk continued.

While LNG can reduce emissions by around 25% compared with conventional fossil fuels, there is potential to greatly enhance environmental performance on LNG-fueled vessels like Blue Aspire by switching to liquefied biomethane (LBM) that offers net-zero potential, UECC’s CEO pointed out.

The company is now increasing the application of the latter fuel on its dual-fuel LNG PCTCs after recently securing an LBM supply agreement with Titan Clean Fuels that is forecast to cut its overall fleet emissions by 75,000 tons in 2025, boosting its Sail for Change sustainability initiative with several major European vehicle manufacturers.

“The Blue Aspire therefore represents a valuable addition to the UECC fleet that underpins our market commitment to sustainability, while contributing to decarbonization of shipping,” Mørk concluded.