Vehicle manufacturer JLR has signed up to join UECC’s 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 in 2024 in which 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 the latest supply deal with Titan to secure LBM supplies at the Port of Zeebrugge for much of 2025, resulting in an estimated reduction of over 75,000t of GHG emissions.
UECC Energy and Sustainability Manager Daniel Gent said: “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.”
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 decarbonisation of its manufacturing, operations and supply chain, as well as vehicle emission reductions.
Expansion of the Sail for Change programme is being driven by increasing interest from the automotive industry, fuelled by environmental concerns and regulatory pressure, that is likely to see it further extended into future years, according to Gent.
Gent added: “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.”
The EU ETS is seen as a significant commercial incentive to utilise eco-friendly shipping, as it has resulted in increasing liabilities for polluting vessels, while FuelEU Maritime can result in costly penalties for failing to meet ever-tightening carbon intensity reduction targets from 1 January 2025.
Gent said: “We know from our customers already engaged in Sail for Change that they see the LBM product as a competitive decarbonisation lever in their supply chains. We have seen customers increasing the scope – (port pairs and volume of units) since joining and have strong interest for a long-term Sail for Change commitment into 2027.”
UECC has taken a lead with proactive adoption of alternative 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 explores the use of zero-carbon fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia, towards its goal of net-zero operations by 2040.
Gent sais: “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. Emboldened by our moves to secure alternative fuels into the future, our customers are looking to expand their decarbonisation scope under Sail for Change.”
Fuelling vessels with bioLNG enables ro-ro carrier UECC to perform carbon-neutral loading operations across its port network with verified emissions data available to clients through a CO2 registry. Gents believes there is huge potential for further significant emissions reductions with LBM exceeding the estimated 25% cut in emissions from using LNG, while it virtually eliminates other harmful emissions of particulate matter, NOx and SOx.
Gent concluded: “This is reflected not only in the Scope 3 emission reductions being seen by our Sail for Change customers, but also by UECC as a whole when we look into the future with Fuel EU Maritime on the horizon.”
Image: UECC’s multi-fuel LNG battery hybrid PCTC ‘Auto Aspire’ (source: UECC)
