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.
Credit: SUARDIAZ Group
RS Atlantico car carrier
Its entry into service will strengthen SUARDIAZ Shipping Lines’ operational capacity in the maritime transport of vehicles and rolling cargo. These are the largest vessels in the company’s history, and with them, SUARDIAZ becomes the first Spanish shipowner to have an LNG-powered vessel in the Car Carrier segment.
The new vessel forms part of SUARDIAZ Group’s long-term investment strategy to expand its capabilities, strengthen its position as a global logistics provider and respond to the changing needs of international supply chains.
Over the past six years, SUARDIAZ Group has invested more than €360 million in a programme of growth encompassing fleet renewal, international expansion, logistics infrastructure and specialised capabilities for the industrial and energy sectors. The investment also includes the continued development of multimodal solutions integrating maritime, road and rail transport, forwarding, industrial logistics, port services and offshore projects.
“International logistics is undergoing a period of profound transformation, and the industry needs reliable partners capable of offering increasingly sophisticated solutions that are prepared to address new challenges. Control over logistics chains is becoming a fundamental asset for the global economy, and this is where SUARDIAZ, through its investment plan, is positioning itself as an essential player for our customers,” said Juan Riva, CEO of SUARDIAZ Group.
An investment in support of innovation and sustainability
The addition of this new PCTC reflects SUARDIAZ’s commitment to continuous improvement, integrating different modes of transport and adapting to the needs of a constantly evolving market.
With capacity for approximately 5,500 cars, RS Atlantico has been designed to transport vehicles, machinery and High & Heavy cargo. At approximately 190 metres long and 55,000 GT, it will increase the capacity available to SUARDIAZ Group’s established automotive customers and strengthen its existing routes.
The vessel is powered by dual-fuel engines capable of operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG), a transitional technology aligned with the decarbonisation of international maritime transport and the evolution of environmental regulation within the sector. RS Atlantico is expected to arrive in the final quarter of 2026, while a second vessel will join the fleet in mid-2027.
The addition of the RS Atlantico is an expression of a much broader investment and growth strategy through which SUARDIAZ Group continues to strengthen its capabilities for the automotive sector and consolidate its position as a global logistics operator, in response to the current and future needs of its customers.