Volkswagen will transport most of its new vehicles overseas using low-emission liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships. After the first two LNG car carriers entered service in 2020, Volkswagen Group Logistics has now ordered four more ships with dual-fuel engines that can be powered with LNG, the company said in a release.
The ships will begin sailing by the end of 2023, serving the North American route between Emden in Germany and Veracruz in Mexico. On the return trip, the LNG ships will transport new vehicles destined for Europe. Soon, six of the nine car carriers crossing the North Atlantic for Volkswagen will be powered by LNG.
“In line with the Group’s commitment to e-mobility and climate-neutral production, the LNG fleet used by Logistics represents a major contribution to making Volkswagen net carbon neutral by 2050,” Simon Motter, head of Volkswagen Group Logistics, said.
Exclusive long-term agreements have been signed with ship owners Wallenius Marine and SFL Corporation for the use of the four new car carriers on the North Atlantic route. The ships are being built in China. They each have a capacity of around 7,000 CEU (car equivalent units), which corresponds to between 4,400 and 4,700 vehicles from the Volkswagen Group’s model mix.
The ships will be powered by 13,300 kW dual-fuel engines from MAN Energy Solutions and, in eco-speed mode, will be able to travel at speeds of 15 to 16 knots (28 to 30 km/h), the release added.
Source : Economic Times
