China’s largest ocean-going cargo ship powered by both photovoltaic energy and liquefied natural gas (LNG) has officially embarked on its maiden voyage from Nansha, Guangzhou.
A view of the Yuan Hai Kou, China’s largest ocean-going cargo ship powered by both photovoltaic energy and liquefied natural gas [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Named Yuan Hai Kou, the vessel was invested in by Guangzhou Yuanhai Auto Carrier, a subsidiary of China COSCO SHIPPING Corporation Limited (COSCO SHIPPING Group), and built by CSSC Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited.
Carrying around 4,000 Chinese-made vehicles, with over 90 percent categorized as new energy vehicles (NEVs), the vessel is destined for several Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries including Greece, Turkey, Italy, and Tunisia.
China’s largest ocean-going cargo ship powered by both photovoltaic energy and liquefied natural gas (LNG) officially embarks on its maiden voyage from Nansha, Guangzhou. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
It is the first car carrier to not only fully comply with the China Classification Society’s Safety Technical Guidelines for New Energy Vehicle Roll-on/Roll-off Transport, but also the first PCTC to receive the “NEV Carriage” additional notation.
In response to the booming global demand for NEVs, COSCO SHIPPING Group has been expanding a green and efficient car carrier fleet by partnering on a series of large LNG dual-fuel vessels. With the delivery of Yuan Hai Kou, the group’s car carrier fleet has now expanded to 20 vessels, operating routes that cover the Persian Gulf, Europe, and beyond — providing strong logistics support for the overseas delivery of Chinese automobiles.
In 2024, COSCO SHIPPING Group transported more than 160,000 vehicles to BRI countries. From January to April 2025, the company shipped 68,604 vehicles along these routes, a year-on-year increase of 110.14 percent.
The vessel carrying with China-made vehicles [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The Yuan Hai Kou measures 199.9 meters in length, with a gross tonnage of 68,252 tons and a displacement of 39,069 tons. It is equipped with 12 decks and can transport up to 7,000 standard car units, including commercial vehicles, engineering machinery, and MAFI trailers.
The Yuan Hai Kou measures 199.9 meters in length, with a gross tonnage of 68,252 tons and a displacement of 39,069 tons. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
COSCO SHIPPING Group plans to expand its car carrier fleet to 30 vessels by 2026, to further empower the global reach of China’s automobile industry.
(Executive editor: Cui Feng)
