UECC adds multi-fuel LNG vessel to car carrier fleet as sector invests to decarbonise global maritime vehicle logistics

United European Car Carriers (UECC) has added another dual fuel LNG pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) to its fleet of vessels. It brings the number of owned and chartered PCTCs to 15, including five dual and multi-fuel LNG vessels – three with battery hybrid capability. Two more are due for delivery in 2028. 

The 200-metre-long Blue Aspire has capacity for nearly 7,000 vehicles and was delivered by CIMC Raffles Offshore Engineering. It will operate alongside five other vessels on a route between the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, taking in the Turkish ports of Yenikoy and Autoport, Cuxhaven in Germany and Zeebrugge, Belgium 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,” said the company’s chief operations officer Per Christian Mørk. 

By using LNG fuel Blue Aspire can reduce emissions by 25% compared to conventional fossil fuels, according to UECC. However, switching to liquified biomethane (LBM) promises net-zero carbon savings. UECC said it is now increasing the use of LBM on its dual-fuel LNG PCTCs following an agreement signed with Titan Clean Fuels at the beginning of December, which is forecast to cut its overall fleet emissions by 75,000 tons in 2025 by increasing the supply of LBM and bio-LNG.  

Under the new agreement Titan will provide ISCC-EU certified mass balanced LBM or bioLNG, for bunkering at the port of Zeebrugge to fuel UECC’s five dual-fuel LNG PCTCs operating in the European shortsea trade under the supply contract covering the rest of this year and 2025, when Titan will supply a minimum of 12,000 tons of LBM. 

UECC said that since July 1, 2024 over 95% of the fuel delivered by Titan has been LBM, cutting more than 30,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases emissions. That is in line with its Sail for Change sustainability initiative set up in June this year with several major European vehicle manufacturers, including Ford and Toyota.  

“The engagement in Sail for Change from our customers, alongside Titan’s in-depth expertise in clean fuel supply and bunkering, have allowed us to almost entirely transition from LNG to LBM, and to swiftly scale up our use of biomethane,” said Daniel Gent, energy and sustainability manager at UECC. “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.” 

Competition to decarbonise 
A number of other providers of maritime finished vehicle logistics services are turning to the use of LNG vessels to cut emissions. NYK, one of the co-owners of UECC (with Wallenius Lines), introduced its first LNG car carrier, Sakura Leader, in 2020 and intends to have a fleet of 20 by 2028 as part of its Sail Green initiative. 

Neptune Lines has ordered two new pure car and truck carriers for its 22-strong fleet, each with a capacity for 4,200 car equivalent units (CEUs). They are being built equipped with hybrid energy systems, designed to use battery installation to supply peak power and with dual fuel systems able to run on LNG or very low sulphur fuel oil to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

Earlier this year Cosco Shipping Specialized Carriers deployed two LNG dual fuel PCTCs with capacity for 7,500 CEUs. It has orders for 24 large-scale LNG ro-ro vessels. 

Last year Hyundai Glovis announced it was investing in in 12 dual-fuel car carrier vessels that will be able to run on LNG. Each ship will be able to carry 10,800 car equivalent units (CEUs) making them the world’s largest PCTCs. 

OEM customers are looking for ways to decarbonise their vehicle deliveries by ocean. Among them is Volkswagen Group which is using LNG-powered vessels to do so, including those from Siem Car Carriers.