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," said Thomas Ekhaugen, head of Fleet & Cargo Handling.

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.