A EUROPEAN provider of short-sea transportation services for cars, UECC, has signed a three-year contract for Svitzer’s EcoTow product.
EcoTow replaces fossil fuels with biofuels on Svitzer tugs.
According to a statement from the towage company, biofuels are among the most effective fuels for decarbonisation in the short term as these are readily available and can deliver easy, immediate cuts of as much as 100% in tank-to-wake emissions for existing vessels.
Svitzer said the new partnership would result in a reduction of almost 25% in UECC’s seaborne Scope 3 emissions – covering indirect emissions associated with business operations across IUCC’s value chain.
It is estimated that carbon dioxide emissions from UECC’s towage operations at the ports of Esbjerg, Gothenburg and Malmö will be reduced by more than 300,000 kilograms over the term of the agreement with Svitzer.
UECC energy and sustainability manager Daniel Gent said: “With this agreement, UECC once again positions itself in front of the market, demonstrating that decarbonisation projects are scalable and available. This project aligns with our own supplier policy, which looks to holistically reduce the environmental impact of our business operation, far beyond regulatory requirements.”
And Svitzer head of EcoTow Sven Lumber said: “We are extremely pleased to see UECC among the first movers on EcoTow in Scandinavia. With this agreement they join other global Svitzer customers who partner with us around decarbonisation, gaining the ability to include externally audited carbon dioxide emission savings in their reporting. This shows a strong desire on the part of UECC to demonstrate environmental responsibility.”
In November of last year, Svitzer announced it would convert its fleet of 10 tugs in London and Medway to be powered by marine biofuel as part of its EcoTow offering.
