On July 8th, the eye-catching BYD “Shenzhen” roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessel, after “north-south relay” loading operations at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port and Shenzhen Xiaomo International Logistics Port, set sail for Europe fully loaded with 6,817 BYD new energy vehicles. Among them, 1,105 Song series export models produced at BYD’s Shenshan base adopted the “ground transportation” method for port gathering for the first time, taking only 5 minutes from the factory to loading at Xiaomo Port, successfully achieving “direct departure from factory to port”. This breakthrough has significantly promoted “port-factory linkage”, adding strong momentum to Shenzhen’s efforts to accelerate the building of a new generation of world-class automobile city and a global marine center city.
The “BYD SHENZHEN” was meticulously designed and built by China Merchants Nanjing Jinling Yizheng Shipyard for BYD Auto Industry Co., Ltd. With an overall length of 219.9 meters, a width of 37.7 meters, and a maximum speed of 19 knots, the vessel is equipped with 16 decks, 4 of which are movable. Its strong loading capacity enables it to carry 9,200 standard vehicles at a time, making it one of the world’s largest and most environmentally friendly car ro-ro vessels. The berthing operation this time is of great significance, as it not only set a new record for the largest tonnage since the commissioning of Zhoushan Port and Xiaomo Port but also created a new record for the maximum number of vehicles carried, fully demonstrating that the ports’ capability to serve ultra-large ro-ro vessels has achieved a major breakthrough.
It is worth mentioning that the vessel adopts the latest LNG dual-fuel clean power technology, equipped with a series of green and environmental protection equipment such as high-efficiency and energy-saving main engines, shaft-driven generators with bearing sleeves, high-voltage shore power systems, and BOG recondensation systems. At the same time, it also applies advanced technical solutions such as energy-saving devices and drag-reducing antifouling paint, effectively improving the energy-saving and emission-reduction efficiency of the vessel. Its efficient loading system and reliable protection technology can ensure efficient loading during transportation and the safety of vehicles, providing more stable and low-carbon logistics support for the global delivery of BYD new energy vehicles.
Faced with the current challenges of insufficient export capacity and cost pressure, BYD made a decisive layout and successfully completed the key step of “building ships for going global”. Up to now, BYD has put into operation 6 car carriers, namely “EXPLORER NO.1″, “BYD CHANGZHOU”, “BYD HEFEI”, “BYD SHENZHEN”, “BYD XI’AN”, and “BYD CHANGSHA”, with a total transportation volume of over 70,000 new energy vehicles. The seventh “Zhengzhou” of BYD has completed its sea trial and will be put into operation this month; the eighth “Jinan” car carrier is also about to be launched. By then, the total loading capacity of BYD’s car carriers will jump to 67,000 vehicles, and the annual capacity is expected to exceed 1 million units.
“With the strong support and guidance of units such as the Shenshan Administration Bureau of Shenzhen Municipal Transport Bureau and the District Construction Engineering Bureau, we adopted the ground transportation method for the first time, allowing new cars to be directly driven from the factory to Xiaomo Port for loading after offline,” said a staff member of BYD’s Shenshan base. The factory has successfully completed the commissioning of the production line for export models and realized the mass production of Song series export models in June this year.
Guo Yao, Chairman of Guangdong Yantian Port Shenshan Port Investment Co., Ltd., said that relying on the BYD’s complete vehicle production industry chain in the rear, Xiaomo Port’s car ro-ro transportation will have a stable and sufficient supply of goods, which will strongly promote the in-depth integration and coordinated development of modern logistics industry with the automobile industry chain and supply chain, and contribute an important force to Shenzhen’s building of a strong manufacturing city.
As an important support for Shenshan’s land-sea linkage and smooth internal and external transportation system, Xiaomo Port has significant advantages in developing car ro-ro business. The designed annual throughput of its first-phase project is 4.5 million tons. At present, 2 100,000-ton berths (hydraulic level) and 1 50,000-ton berth have been put into operation, which can meet the transportation demand of 300,000 vehicles per year. To closely keep up with the development pace of new energy vehicles in the district, the main structure of the second-phase project of Xiaomo Port officially started on January 8th, 2025. The project will adjust the function of part of the shoreline of the completed first-phase project of Xiaomo Port, transforming the existing multi-purpose berths into car ro-ro berths. After adjustment, it can meet the demand of 2 9,200-car ro-ro vessels berthing and loading/unloading at the same time, and is planned to be put into operation at the end of 2027. By then, the annual car transportation capacity of Xiaomo Port will be increased to 1 million units, striving to become a hub port for car ro-ro foreign trade in South China.
As a leading enterprise in China’s new energy vehicle industry, BYD has shown a strong momentum in the process of globalization. Up to now, BYD new energy vehicles have entered 100 countries and regions across six continents, covering more than 400 cities worldwide. Thanks to its unique advantage of being adjacent to the port, BYD Auto Industrial Park in Shenshan has become the only base among BYD’s major production bases that focuses on overseas markets and realizes port-factory linkage development.
Post time: Jul-11-2025