May 29 - Auto Energy, one of two dual-fuel LNG pure car and truck carriers (PCTC) introduced into service by United European Car Carriers (UECC) was recently on display in the Port of Bremerhaven's Überseehafen.
The Norwegian shipping company presented the newly-built ship at a customer event. At 181 m in length and 30 m in width, the PCTC runs on environmentally friendly liquefied natural gas (LNG), or heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil.
"In opting for LNG, UECC has shown pioneering ecological spirit in the maritime shipping business," commented Jörg Schulz, Bremen's state councillor for ports.
UECC says that Auto Energy is the world's largest car carrier with a main engine that can run on LNG.
"In LNG operation, the emission of nitrogen oxides is reduced by up to 80 percent, when compared to HFO/MGO/Scrubber, and there are no sulphur dioxide or particulate emissions at all," added Schulz.
According to UECC, Auto Energy can carry up to 4,000 cars and has a ramp capacity of up to 160 tonnes. The new vessel has 1A Super Finnish/Swedish ice class certification. Auto Energy can load extremely high components: its ten decks can be adjusted to a height of 5.3 m, providing ample space for cargo on roll trailers, as well as for high and heavy rolling cargo such as mobile cranes, agricultural machinery and crawler excavators.
The vessel's sister ship, Auto Eco, has the same features.
Both ships operate on European routes, linking the ports of Southampton, Zeebrugge, Bremerhaven, Malmö, Hanko, St Petersburg and Gdynia.
