Chinese shipyards are building large new car transport vessels at an unprecedented pace as China looks to gain greater control over global shipping and help electric vehicle makers such as BYD drive forward their overseas expansion.
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co delivered a massive roll-on/roll-off vessel capable of carrying 8,600 cars, built in a record 200 days. Operated by COSCO, the nearly 200m-long ship will transport Chinese-made cars from Shanghai to major European ports, including Bristol, Zeebrugge, and Bremerhaven, on its maiden voyage.
Part of China’s strategy to develop its own car shipping fleet, the vessel ensures stable transport capacity for its expanding car export market, which surged 23 per cent year-on-year to reach 6.41 million in 2024.
The ship boasts a deck area equivalent to 11 football fields and sets an industry record for the shortest construction cycle. It is the first of a new generation of Chinese car carriers powered by liquefied natural gas and conventional marine fuel.
Carrying over 5,700 vehicles, the vessel is expected to ease shipping capacity shortages on European routes while boosting global automotive trade.
Chinese automakers, including BYD, Chery, and SAIC, have increasingly adopted an ‘independent shipping’ strategy to reduce costs and stabilise operations amid high demand for car exports.
In January BYD launched its own LNG-powered dual-fuel carrier with a capacity of 7,000 units. China’s rapid rise as the world’s leading shipbuilder and car exporter has raised concerns in the US, leading to proposed penalties for ports hosting Chinese-built vessels.
Photo = BYD Hefei off south-eastern coast of Singapore on her way to Europe with nearly 5000 NEVs. (SGshipspotter/shipspottingcom)
