Suardiaz expands fleet with dual-fuel car carrier RS Atlantico

Suardiaz Group has expanded its automotive shipping capacity with the departure from China of RS Atlantico, the first of a new generation of dual-fuel PCTC (Pure Car and Truck Carrier) vessels joining its fleet. The company states it has become the first Spanish shipowner to operate an LNG-powered vessel in the car carrier segment.

RS Atlantico has capacity for approximately 5,500 cars and is designed to carry vehicles, machinery and High & Heavy cargo. It is about 190 metres long with roughly 55,000 GT and is powered by dual-fuel engines able to run on liquefied natural gas, described in the announcement as a transitional technology aligned with decarbonisation of international maritime transport and evolving environmental regulation in the sector.

According to the company, RS Atlantico is expected to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2026, while a second vessel will join the fleet in mid-2027.

The group says it has invested more than EUR 360 million over six years in fleet renewal, international expansion, logistics infrastructure and specialised capabilities for the industrial and energy sectors, alongside multimodal solutions combining maritime, road and rail transport, forwarding, industrial logistics, port services and offshore projects. CEO Juan Riva links the investment plan to what the company describes as a profound transformation of international logistics and the growing weight of control over logistics chains.