LNG-powered vehicle carrier calls on Jaxport

The Jacksonville Port Authority (Jaxport) in Florida late last week welcomed the Siem Confucius, the world's first vehicle carrier of its size operated by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The vessel arrived at Jaxport from Veracruz, Mexico, and unloaded factory-new Volkswagen Group of America cars and SUVs at the port's Blount Island Marine Terminal. It was the vessel's maiden voyage to the United States, Jaxport officials said in a press release.

CSX serves the terminal.

The 7,500-car-capacity vessel is the first of two new LNG-powered ships built by Siem Car Carriers AS and commissioned by Volkswagen. The ships reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 25 percent and sulphur oxide emissions up to 100 percent, according to Siem Car Carriers.

"Northeast Florida is a global leader in the use of LNG as a preferred fuel type for the maritime industry," said Jaxport Chief Executive Officer Eric Green.