European short-sea operator United European Car Carriers (UECC) launched the second of its two new pure car/truck carriers, TBN Auto Energy, at the Nantong Cosco KHI Ship Engineering (NACKS) shipyard in Nantong, China, on June 30.
The new PCTC is a dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessel, featuring the 1A Super Finnish/Swedish ice class.
With a capacity of approximately 3800 cars, including 6000 sqm of high and heavy cargo, it will be the largest dual-fuel LNG PCTC in the world with the ability of loading cargo on 10 decks with a maximum cargo weight of 160MT, according to UECC.
“It is a ground-breaking moment seeing our second LNG PCTC vessel, one of the most technically advanced PCTCs ever built on the water,” Thomas Ekhaugen, Head of Fleet & Cargo Handling, said.
With a length of 181 metres and a width of 30 metre, TBN Auto Energy will now undergo sea and gas trials, during which the vessel will test its engines using LNG fuel.
UECC, jointly owned by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and Wallenius Lines, is expected to take delivery of the new ship on November 28, 2016, in Nantong.
Ordered in March 2014, the two dual-fuel LNG PCTCs are capable of operating with LNG fuel or heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil.