SUARDIAZ Group has received in China the RS Atlantico, the first of the new PCTC (Pure Car and Truck Carrier) ships that it will add to its fleet and that features a dual-fuel propulsion system prepared to use liquefied natural gas (LNG). The vessel has an approximate capacity to transport 5,500 cars and its arrival is scheduled for the last quarter of 2026.
The incorporation is part of the investment program developed by the group over the past years, which includes actions for fleet renewal, logistics infrastructure, internationalization, and development of specialized services. According to data provided by the company, the accumulated investments over the last six years exceed 360 million euros.
The RS Atlantico⟧ has a length of 190 meters and a gross tonnage of approximately 55,000 GT. The vessel has been designed for the transport of vehicles, machinery, and goods classified as High & Heavy, a category that includes large or heavy rolling equipment and cargo. cuenta con 190 metros de eslora y un arqueo bruto de aproximadamente 55.000 GT. El buque ha sido diseñado para el transporte de vehículos, maquinaria y mercancías clasificadas como High & Heavy, una categoría que incluye equipos y cargas rodadas de grandes dimensiones o peso.
The entry into service of the unit will increase SUARDIAZ Shipping Lines' capacity to handle automotive and rolling cargo traffic. Due to its dimensions, the RS Atlantico is among the largest vessels added so far by the company.
SUARDIAZ also points out that it becomes the first Spanish shipowner to have a vessel with propulsion using LNG within the car carrier segment. The dual-fuel system allows operations using liquefied natural gas and is part of the technologies used by maritime transport during the adjustment process to new environmental requirements.
The group plans to incorporate a second unit of these characteristics by mid-2027. Both vessels are part of the fleet renewal program initiated by the company, which also includes investments in other segments, including chemical tankers and ships intended for offshore services.
The renewal of the fleet is one of the lines of the investment program developed by SUARDIAZ, along with expanding its international presence, investments in logistics facilities, and the incorporation of capacities aimed at industrial and energy sectors.
The company is also working on multimodal solutions that combine maritime, road, rail transport, forwarding, industrial logistics, port services, and activities related to offshore projects. The aim of this structure is to integrate different phases of the logistics chain within a single service offering.
The CEO of SUARDIAZ Group, Juan Riva, has framed this investment program in the context of the changes that international supply chains are experiencing and the growing demand for services that allow combining different modes of transport. According to Riva, the control and coordination of logistics chains have gained greater relevance for companies operating in international markets.
Automotive is one of the sectors in which SUARDIAZ has been active for decades. The new PCTC will provide additional capacity for current clients and for maritime routes in which the company operates, as well as catering to goods other than completed vehicles due to the ability to transport machinery and other rolling cargo.
The use of dual-fuel technology also responds to the evolution of environmental regulations applicable to maritime transport. Liquefied natural gas is currently used as a transitional fuel in certain segments of the international fleet while the sector develops and adopts various alternatives to reduce emissions associated with navigation.
The delivery of the RS Atlantico⟧ thus expands SUARDIAZ's investments in maritime assets within a program that over the last six years has exceeded 360 million euros and includes both ships and logistics capabilities. amplía, de este modo, las inversiones de SUARDIAZ en activos marítimos dentro de un programa que durante los últimos seis años ha superado los 360 millones de euros y que comprende tanto buques como infraestructuras y capacidades logísticas.
SUARDIAZ has more than seven decades of activity and has progressively expanded its scope from maritime transport to other services associated with the logistics chain. Currently, it has an international network of offices and logistics centers and employs over a thousand professionals.
Its service structure includes maritime and land transport, rail, forwarding, industrial logistics, port operations, and offshore activities, with a presence in various areas related to the international movement of goods.
After the delivery in China, the RS Atlantico⟧ will begin its incorporation into the group's operations during the last quarter of this year. The arrival of the second unit is scheduled for mid-2027, as part of the planned renewal for the fleet dedicated to the transport of vehicles and rolling cargo. iniciará su incorporación a la operativa del grupo durante el último trimestre de este año. La llegada de la segunda unidad está programada para mediados de 2027, dentro de la renovación prevista para la flota dedicada al transporte de vehículos y carga rodada.
