JLR joins UECC bio-LNG initiative to decarbonise maritime transport

European sustainable RoRo carrier UECC on Monday (6 January) said luxury vehicle manufacturer JLR has signed up to join its Sail for Change initiative using low-carbon liquefied biomethane (LBM) in maritime transport to support the company’s sustainability ambitions through decarbonisation of its global logistics chain.

The addition of JLR means that four vehicle manufacturers are now participating in the initiative launched last year.

As part of the initiative, LBM, or bioLNG, supplied by Titan Clean Fuels is currently being bunkered on UECC’s five dual-fuel LNG Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs) operating in the European shortsea trade to provide direct and immediate cuts in emissions.

Sail for Change, which started with Green Gas Month in July 2024, has now been extended into 2025 on the strength of a newly minted supply deal with Titan to secure LBM supplies at the Port of Zeebrugge for much of 2025, resulting in an estimated reduction of over 75,000 tons of GHG emissions.

“We’re delighted to have another valued customer onboard with Sail for Change. JLR has shown a strong interest in developing sustainable maritime transport solutions and this is a big step in that direction,” said UECC’s Energy & Sustainability Manager Daniel Gent.

JLR, which produces the Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar brands, will deliver electric models of all its luxury vehicles by 2030 and aims to achieve net-zero emissions across its full value chain by 2039 through the decarbonization of its manufacturing, operations and supply chain, as well as vehicle emission reductions.

“Interest in Sail for Change has grown exponentially since its launch and I think increasing regulatory pressures are amongst the drivers for this. Car manufacturers like JLR are investing heavily in decarbonisation as a top priority, working with all supply chain partners collaboratively to reduce emissions,” Gent explained.

UECC said it has proactively adopted alternative bunker fuels like LBM and bio-diesel across its 15-vessel fleet to significantly reduce its carbon footprint in line with the new green regime, as it also explores the use of zero-carbon fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia, towards its goal of net-zero operations by 2040.

Gent added the latest supply deal with Titan has given UECC “an excellent platform from which we can build a long-term commitment to alternative fuels, in this case LBM”.

Fueling its vessels with bioLNG enables UECC to perform carbon-neutral loading operations across its port network with verified emissions data available to clients through a CO2 registry.

Related: Titan to supply biomethane bunker fuel to UECC multi-fuel ships with new deal
Related: UECC and Titan team up on bio-LNG bunkering operations in Port of Zeebrugge

Photo credits: UECC
Published: 7 January, 2024