The shortsea shipping company United European Car Carriers (UECC) is once again entering the newbuilding market and ordering more ships with battery hybrid propulsion.
Two more Pure Car Truck Carriers (PCTC) have been contracted at the China Merchants Jinling shipyard in Nanjing, as confirmed by the joint venture between Wallenius Lines from Scandinavia and NYK from Japan.
The ships will each have a capacity of 3,000 CEU. The shipping company is thus continuing the modernization of its fleet. Most recently, UECC had already ordered units with 4,500 CEU and 7,000 CEU. “These newbuildings represent a significant step forward in terms of safety, efficiency and environmental sustainability and redefine transport capacity in the PCTC segment,” said UECC CEO Glenn Edvardsen after the recent contract signing. Delivery is scheduled for 2028.
The ships, which were reportedly developed “in close cooperation” with the Shanghai Ship Research & Design Institute (SDARI), will be equipped with LNG dual-fuel engines. There will also be a shore power connection. In view of the risks involved in transporting cars and hazardous goods, a “robust safety architecture” has been integrated, which improves fire protection and integrates advanced monitoring, detection and response functions.
UECC has incorporated nine decks, a stern ramp with a capacity of 160 tons and a length overall (LOA) of 169.5 m into the design. “This makes the PCTCs flexible enough to transport a variety of vehicles, heavy lift and other rolling cargo on UECC’s European short sea network where they are deployed,” the company says. There is also a strong focus on the transportation of project cargo – a segment that has become significantly more important for the carrier market in recent years. “With a market-leading main deck in terms of height combined with increased deck strength, this ship enables the transportation of significantly larger H&H units and project cargo than is usually possible with a PCTC. As a result, it can transport cargoes that were previously beyond the reach of this segment,” says the official statement.
With four newbuildings on order, UECC will have a total of nine dual-fuel PCTCs with LNG and multi-fuel battery hybrid propulsion, which can also be operated with liquefied biomethane (LBM). The fleet currently comprises a total of 16 vessels.
