November 24 - United European Car Carriers (UECC) named the world's first dual-fuel LNG pure car truck carrier (PCTC), Auto Eco, at a ceremony at the Port of Zeebrugge earlier this week.
Representatives of UECC's owners - Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and Wallenius Lines - were present at the event. Claire Tillekaerts, ceo of Flanders Investment & Trade, was named as the ship's godmother.
The first in a two sistership order, Auto Eco was built in conjunction with Kawasaki Heavy Industries at the NACKS shipyard in China.
Speaking at the event Glenn Edvardsen, ceo of UECC, said: "It is the first PCTC of its kind in the world to be fitted with a dual-fuel LNG propulsion system, allowing it to complete a fourteen-day round -trip voyage solely on LNG without refueling. Auto Eco not only meets existing emissions regulations but also exceeds them, allowing her to trade in any environment control area, worldwide."
Auto Eco is built to meet the Super 1A Finnish/Swedish ice class standard, Edvardsen stated: "To make sure the vessel can trade safely in icy waters, Auto Eco has been constructed to meet the highest ice class standard: Super 1A Finish /Swedish ice class. She may be scheduled to trade in the Baltic Sea, but Auto Eco is capable of sailing just about anywhere - including the Northeast or Northwest Passage if ever called upon."
