A general cargo vessel has successfully departed from Qinzhou Port, in the Beibu Gulf, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, carrying the first batch of 120 BYD energy storage containers, each weighing approximately 45 tons.
Serving the 12.5GWh project — currently the world’s largest grid-side energy storage initiative — these units are destined for Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
The project involves a total of 2,364 energy storage units. COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China COSCO SHIPPING Corporation Limited (COSCO SHIPPING Group), is providing end-to-end logistics solutions and transport services for both the domestic land segment as well as the international sea segment of the project.
The energy storage units, classified as Class 9 dangerous goods, are housed in 20-foot heavy-duty containers, each weighing 45.5 tons. With high value, substantial weight, and tight delivery schedules, the transport and handling of these goods present significant challenges.
To overcome the difficulties of transporting heavy hazardous cargo, COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers Co., Ltd. worked with local partners to launch a pilot program combining integrated transport with clean energy solutions. A fleet of 25 dedicated vehicles operate under a “direct factory-to-port”model, ensuring smooth coordination and rapid cargo delivery to the port.
For sea transport, the company used both heavy-lift and pulp vessels, with unloading at both Dammam and Jeddah ports to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers Co., Ltd. has now transported over 3,000 energy storage units across key markets including the Middle East and the Americas.
(Executive editor: Yuan Ting)
