United European Car Carriers (UECC) has launched the first of three LNG battery-hybrid pure car and truck carriers (PCTC) at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, China.

With an overall length of 169 m, a width of 28 m and a car carrying capacity of 3,600 units on ten cargo decks, the new vessels can accommodate a wide range of high, heavy and breakbulk cargoes, in addition to cars and trucks, UECC said.

The PCTCs are built to the latest energy efficiency criteria, meeting the Tier 3 International Maritime Organization (IMO) NOx emission limitations in place for the Baltic and North seas.

UECC said that all three vessels would be equipped with battery-hybrid solutions that will enable it to exceed the IMO’s target of 40 percent reduction in carbon intensity by 2030.

The ships are also equipped with dual-fuel LNG engines for main propulsion and auxiliaries. As more biofuels are set to become commercially available in the future, UECC said it plans to increase the proportion of carbon neutral and synthetic fuels in its future fuel mix.

Glenn Edvardsen, ceo at UECC, said: “These ships prove that decarbonisation of the industry is possible using currently available technologies.”

The remaining two vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2022.

www.uecc.com