March 7 - United European Car Carriers (UECC) has signed a deal to build two, dual-fuel LNG Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs).
The contract has been signed with Kawasaki Heavy Industries and the vessels will be constructed at the shipbuilder's joint venture NACKS shipyard in Nantong, China.
The vessels will be 181 m long, have a 30 m beam and Finnish/Swedish ice class 1A certification. Each ship will be capable of transporting approximately 3,800 standard-sized vehicles across 10 decks. A significant amount of the capacity can be used to transport high and heavy project cargoes, in addition to cargoes loaded on mafi trailers, says UECC.
Each ship will be able to run on LNG, heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil, improving operational efficiency and flexibility. LNG significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions and almost eliminates sulphur oxide emissions and other particles.
"The LNG installation is a pioneering design and will be one of the largest employed on a commercial vessel and the largest yet of its kind on a pure car and truck carrier," said UECC ceo Glenn Edvardsen.
These ships will be the largest PCTC-type vessels specifically designed for transiting the Baltic and other ice-prone areas, Edvardsen added.
Deliveries of both vessels will be in the second half of 2016.
United European Car Carriers (UECC) is jointly owned by NYK and Wallenius Lines.
