Two New Car Carriers Named
Two new car carriers have been named over the last week, joining a shipping segment that appears to be in better shape than many others at present.
The sixth vessel in Höegh Autoliners’ New Horizon class series was formally named Höegh Trotter at a ceremony at Xiamen Shipbuilding Industries in China on Tuesday.
Höegh Trotter is the sixth in a series of six Post Panamax vessels under the New Horizon design that Höegh Autoliners has taken delivery of within this year. With its deck space of 71,400 square meters and carrying capacity of 8,500 car equivalent units, the vessel is one of the world’s largest pure car and truck carriers (PCTC).
The vessel also has a higher door opening than Höegh Autoliners’ current vessels, enabling cargo up to 6.5 metres high and 12 metres wide to be loaded. Extra ramp strength allows for cargo weighing up to 375 tons to be loaded over the stern ramp and 22 tons over the side ramp.
Höegh Trotter, together with its sister vessels, is designed to minimise its impact on the environment. Energy efficiency principles have been followed throughout the ship design process and the latest technology in the market has been implemented. Attention has also been paid on optimising the hull form in order to combine high cargo capacity and low fuel consumption. Extensive model testing has been carried out to achieve outstanding performance. In addition to calm water performance, special focus has been paid on added resistance in heavy seas and wind resistance. Furthermore, the New Horizon vessels are estimated to emit 50 percent less CO2 per car transported than a standard car carrier.
Höegh Trotter will begin its Maiden Voyage from East Asia to Europe in mid-December, and is scheduled to sail from Europe back to East Asia via Africa and Oceania after that.
Höegh Autoliners took delivery of the fifth vessel in the series, Höegh Traveller, in Xiamen, China on September 1.
As part of its fleet renewal, the company sold the Morning Mercator (built in 1988) for recycling. The vessel will be recycled at Jiang Men City Zhong Xin Shipbreaking & Steel Co. in China, under supervision by Grieg Green. This is the 16th car carrier the company has sold for green recycling since 2009.
Auto Eco
Meanwhile, United European Car Carriers (UECC) formally named Auto Eco, the world’s first LNG-fuelled PCTC on Monday. UECC, established in 1991 and equally owned by NYK and Wallenius Lines, took delivery of the vessel from Kawasaki Heavy Industries on September 29 at the NACKS shipyard in Nantong, China.
Auto Eco is the first of two sister vessels to be delivered and the largest vessel of its kind. It is the first PCTC of its kind in the world to be fitted with a dual-fuel LNG propulsion system, allowing it to complete a fourteen-day round -trip voyage solely on LNG without refuelling.
In addition, the vessels have Finnish/Swedish ice class 1A super vessel, thus allowing for full-year trading in the Baltic area, where ice is common in winter. Although Auto Eco may be scheduled to trade in the Baltic Sea, she is capable of sailing just about anywhere – including the Northeast or Northwest Passage.
The vessel was christened in the Port of Zeebrugge, an LNG hub for Europe.