London, United Kingdom | January 08, 2026 – In a landmark development for the global tanker market, Union Maritime Ltd (UML) has officially taken delivery of the MT SPA, the world’s first Long Range 2 (LR2) tanker to combine LNG dual-fuel propulsion with wind-assisted technology.
Delivered on January 6, 2026, at the Yangzijiang Shipbuilding yard, the vessel represents a pivot point in high-specification tanker design, merging the immediate carbon-reduction benefits of LNG with the regenerative power of wind.
Technical Specifications and Efficiency Benchmarks
The MT SPA is engineered to significantly outperform current environmental regulatory standards. By integrating BAR Technologies’ WindWings®, large-scale rigid sails, with a dual-fuel LNG engine, the vessel achieves drastic efficiency gains:
- EEDI Performance: The vessel shows an approximately 50% improvement against the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) baseline.
- Regulatory Compliance: It exceeds EEDI Phase 3 requirements by more than 27%.
- Future-Proofing: The design is optimized to meet FuelEU Maritime requirements through to 2040, ensuring long-term commercial viability in European waters.
- Fuel Savings: Based on sister-ship data (such as the Brands Hatch), the WindWings® are expected to save approximately 1.5 tonnes of fuel per wing daily, with total annual CO2 reductions estimated at over 3,800 tonnes per vessel.
A Formula for Fleet Renewal
Following Union Maritime’s tradition of naming its LR2 newbuild series after iconic Formula 1 circuits, the MT SPA is the first of two identical high-spec vessels ordered from Yangzijiang. The second vessel of this specification is scheduled for delivery in March 2026.
“The delivery of MT SPA marks an important step in our long-term strategy, by combining LNG dual-fuel capability with wind-assisted propulsion, we are investing in solutions that deliver tangible emissions reductions today while retaining the flexibility required for the future.” Union Maritime shared.
Maritime Impact
For the maritime industry, the MT SPA underscores the accelerating “multi-fuel” reality. As an LR2 tanker, a workhorse for refined petroleum products, the adoption of LNG as a primary fuel source in this class signals a maturing of the LNG bunkering infrastructure for larger tanker segments.
The inclusion of wind technology further reduces the “carbon intensity” of the cargo itself, a metric becoming increasingly critical for charterers under the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) ratings and the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
The 34-Vessel Program
The MT SPA is part of a massive decarbonization roadmap for Union Maritime, which includes:
- 34 Wind-Assisted Newbuilds: Including 14 LR2s, 12 chemical tankers, and 8 MR tankers.
- Diverse Technologies: While the MT SPA utilizes rigid wings, other vessels in the program are being fitted with Norsepower Rotor Sails and are being built “Methanol-Ready.”
About Union Maritime
Union Maritime is a leading provider of smart shipping solutions, specialising in the transportation of crude oil, chemicals, and refined petroleum products. Operating a modern fleet of over 100 vessels, Union Maritime serves key global trade routes, combining operational excellence with industry-leading decarbonisation efforts to define the future of sustainable shipping.
Source: Union Maritime