New Multi-Fuel Battery Hybrid Sets Example
UECC, a short-sea European transport company, celebrated this week after naming its new multi-fuel battery hybrid vessels. This came shortly after the third delivery of vessels which were built in China, marking the operation of the first two in Europe. UECC is at the forefront of the transition to more eco-friendly shipping vessels. It’s believed that their efforts will serve as a model for the broader shipping industry.
Earlier this week in Zeebrugge, Belgium, Glenn Edvardsen, CEO of UECC commented during the naming ceremony. The brand new multi-fuel battery hybrid vessels that the trio shall “make a real difference for the environment and for business” as new green regulations are set to shift the market playing field.
The audience at the event were told by Edvardsen that steps towards decarbonisation of the global shipping industry is only possible if the logistics companies decide to move in a different direction.
UECC’s owners and board of directors made that brave move over a decade ago. They created a foundation for investing in newbuilds and alternative low-carbon fuels to reduce the company’s carbon footprint.
“By putting the environment at the top of its corporate agenda, UECC has taken industry leadership in response to the climate challenge,” he said. “Growing market demands for green operations and new environmental regulations will radically change the way we do business in the future.”
Auto Advance, the name of the first vessel, has been trading in Northern European waters for the past year after the delivery last November from Jiangnan Shipyard in China. The vessels are currently all registered in Portugal, they are 555 feet long with a capacity of 3,580 cars. The second vessel, Auto Achieve, arrived from China in Mid-August 2022 to Europe. This vessel is now in service. The final vessel was delivered on the 20th October. She was named Auto Advance in an online ceremony, as well as formally by Rosemary Lister. Rosemary is the Head of Raw Materials, Indirect and Supply Chain Purchasing at Toyota Motor Europe. This happened on the 26th October.
Due to the ever increasing awareness and understanding of the effects carbon has on the environment, UECC are focusing more on more sustainable approaches to logistics chains. The traditional ships which run on fossil fuels will be taxed heavily to push this new generation of eco-friendly ships into the fore.
“With new IMO carbon intensity regulations just around the corner and the looming prospect of higher costs for using conventional marine fuel, we are convinced that our timely investments in these newbuilds will make a real difference for the environment and for business. That is called sustainability progress,” Edvardsen concluded.
Source: www.maritime-executive
