Spanish logistics group Suardiaz is expanding its vehicle shipping capacity with the departure from China of RS Atlantico, a car carrier with capacity for around 5,500 vehicles. It is the first of two new dual-fuel vessels for the group’s fleet, announced in Madrid on 29 September 2026. Around 190 metres long and with a gross tonnage of 55,000, RS Atlantico has been designed to carry cars, machinery and oversized and heavy cargo. Its engines can also run on liquefied natural gas, a technology that Suardiaz considers a transitional step aligned with the decarbonisation of international shipping and evolving environmental regulations. With this vessel, Suardiaz Shipping Lines becomes the first Spanish shipowner to operate an LNG-powered car carrier.
The purchase forms part of a programme involving more than €360 million invested over the past six years. The plan covers fleet renewal, international expansion, logistics infrastructure and capacity dedicated to the industrial and energy sectors. It also includes the development of multimodal solutions combining sea, road and rail transport with freight forwarding, industrial logistics, port services and offshore projects. Chief executive Juan Riva linked the investments to a changing market: “International logistics is undergoing a period of profound transformation,” he explained, with businesses seeking “reliable partners capable of offering sophisticated solutions and greater control” over their supply chains. RS Atlantico is expected to arrive in Europe in the final quarter of 2026. The second dual-fuel vessel will join the fleet in mid-2027.
