The “Pontus Highway”, a car carrier with a capacity of 7,000 vehicles, has been handed over to Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line).
Like its sister ship “Nereus Highway“, which was delivered to K Line in August, the “Pontus Highway”, which was built by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Jiangsu, is mainly powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The use of LNG fuel is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by 25 to 30%. Sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions, which contribute to air pollution, are almost completely eliminated, while nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are reduced by around 75% – a figure that complies with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Tier III NOx regulations for conventional ships powered by heavy fuel oil. It is powered by a state-of-the-art “7X62DF-2.1 iCER” electronic dual-fuel engine from WinGD, which further minimises methane emissions when using LNG fuel.
K Line aims for net-zero GHG emissions by 2050
In its environmental vision 2050 – blue seas for the future – the shipping company has formulated the interim target of increasing CO₂ emission efficiency by 50% by 2030 compared to 2008, thereby significantly exceeding the IMO target of 40%. For 2050, the company is aiming to achieve “The challenge of net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions”. The action plan includes the ongoing introduction of new, environmentally friendly fuels and a consistent commitment to achieving the targets set.
Details of the “Pontus Highway” car carrier:
- Main dimensions: Length 199.99 m, width 38.00 m, depth 39.28 m, draught 9.00 m
- Gross tonnage (GT): 75,698
- Capacity: 7,000 CEU
- Main engine: WinGD 7X62DF-2.1
- Speed: 19.0 knots
- Class: DNV
- Flag: Panama
- Builder: China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Jiangsu
