COSCO’s latest car carrier embarked on its maiden voyage to Europe last week.
COSCO Shipping’s Liao He Kou can hold up to 7,500 vehicles across 13 decks, including four liftable decks. The vessels are powered by LNG dual-fuel systems and equipped with green technologies.
According to COSCO, this technology allows ships to reduce energy consumption by about 20 percent, carbon emissions by approximately 27 percent, nitrogen oxide emissions by 30 percent, sulfide emissions by 99 percent and particulate matter emissions by over 90 percent.
A typical China-Europe round-trip voyage using LNG can cut CO2 emissions by over 2,100 tons (1905 tonnes). It will be joined by sistership Min Jiang Kou in the coming weeks.
HLPFI reported in March that COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers will add more than 80 vessels to its fleet over the next two years.
COSCO Shipping and its joint venture Guangzhou Yuanhai Automobile Shipping has ordered 24 LNG dual-fuel car carriers, each with capacities ranging from 7,000 to 8,600 vehicles. The venture expects to have a fleet of approximately 30 specialised car carriers by 2026.
