The Siem Aristotle, the second of two LNG-fueled PCTC (pure car, truck carrier) ships in the SCC fleet (the other is the Confucius), is on her maiden voyage from Emden, Germany to North America. The ship’s first bunkering received over 800 metric tons of eco-friendly LNG fuel. Nearly 4800 cars for Volkswagen Group were loaded, bound for Canada, USA, and Mexico! The vessel is 200 meters long, 38 meters wide with a maximum draft of 10 meters and her sailing speed of up to 19 nautical miles per hour. The Aristotle recently made port calls in Halifax, NS, Baltimore MD and Vera Cruz, MX. It is estimated that it will be arriving to Jacksonville on January 26.
Operating exclusively for Volkswagen Group, the Aristotle is the second installment in SIEM CAR CARRIERS’ fleet that is revolutionizing how long-distance shipping is conducted. Fueled by Liquefied Natural Gas, it reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 25%, nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 30%, particulate matter by up to 60% and sulphur oxide emissions by up to 100%. Looking to the future, these vessels have sparked the necessary change toward climate-neutral shipping in the maritime industry.
The vessel will be managed by SCC’s sister company – Siem Ship Management based in Gdynia, Poland. While in Emden, the experienced management and crew took all precautions necessary to ensure safe bunkering of LNG for the vessel (as seen in the following image).
Commissioned exclusively for Volkswagen, the two ships – named Siem Confucius and Siem Aristotle – mark a critical turning point in how the industry’s biggest players are working together toward a future of sustainable marine transport.
Both ships are the first overseas car freighters in the world to be powered by clean burning liquefied natural gas (LNG), something that Volkswagen believes will contribute significantly towards it ‘goTOzero’ emissions strategy. In this era of growing awareness over sustainable, green logistics and tighter regulations, the launch could not have come at a better time.