Volkswagen Becomes First Car Maker To Use Low-emission Cargo Ships To Transport Vehicles

Volkswagen has launched two low-emission eco-friendly cargo ships to transport vehicles across the Atlantic.

Each of the car-carriers can ferry up to 7,500 small cars or about 4,700 vehicles from various Volkswagen models.

They are powered by liquefied natural gas.

Volkswagen Group has become the first car maker to use a low-emission car-carriers with the launch of two Siem cargo ships that runs on liquefied natural gas.

On Tuesday evening, the Siem Confucius, with more than 4,800 America-bound Volkswagen vehicles, left Emden in Europe for Veracruz in the Gulf of Mexico.

According to Volkswagen, the LNG drive reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 25 percent; nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 30 percent; soot particles by up to 60 percent and sulphur oxide emissions by up to 100 percent.

The Siem Confucius is one of two LNG-powered vehicle transporters that will be used by the car maker.

Its sister ship, Siem Aristotle, is expected to enter service this year. Both ships spans 200 metres in length and 38 metres wide

Both measure in at a hefty 200 meters by 38 meters and feature 13 car decks with a capacity of 7,500 CEU (car equivalent units).

This will enable them to transport about 4,700 vehicles of the Volkswagen model mix in a single journey.

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The ships are powered by 12,600 kW dual-fuel marine engines with direct injection and exhaust gas.

In eco-speed mode they travel at a speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h).

The two tanks in each ship can each hold 1,800 cubic metres. The equivalent is sufficient to cover the entire distance with the fuel stowed in Europe.

In addition to liquid, deep-frozen natural gas, the car carriers could also be operated with biogas or E-gas from regenerative sources.

Volkswagen’s latest move is aimed to repair its reputation following Dieselgate scandal.

By 2025, Volkswagen says it aims to reduce its total net CO2 emissions by 30 per cent and be get CO2-neutral in 2050.

Each year, Volkswagen Group Logistics organises and coordinates around 7,700 ship departures worldwide.

Several hundred liners and eleven car freighter charter ships sail the world’s oceans for the Group every day. They ship 2.8 million new cars a year.

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