Ningbo Ocean Shipping, a new player in the ro-ro shipping market, has started its first car carrier service linking China and Europe. The move is a significant milestone for Zhejiang’s biggest liner operator which is diversifying away from its traditional shipping activities and building up its international vehicle logistics business.
The company’s dual-fuel LNG car carrier, Clean Star, is readying to sail on its first voyage to Europe after taking on over 5,400 hybrid and battery electric vehicles.
This is the first ever regular service connecting China with continental Europe for Ningbo Ocean Shipping, and its first foray into the automotive shipping market. The new route is expected to support the continued development of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port by increasing ro-ro cargo volumes and reinforcing the port’s position as a major international logistics hub.
Built for vehicle transportation, Clean Star is 195.6 metres in length and has a beam of 38 metres, with a maximum speed of 19 knots. The vessel has room for some 7,000 standard vehicles and features a dual-fuel propulsion system that can run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) or conventional marine fuel.
The maiden voyage will depart from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port and make scheduled stops at Gioia Tauro, Italy and Barcelona, Spain. The trip is expected to take about 20 days, offering an efficient export corridor for new-energy vehicles made in eastern China and strengthening logistics ties with Mediterranean Europe.
While Ningbo Ocean Shipping already has a fleet of some 120 vessels, with a total capacity of more than 1.9 million deadweight tons (dwt) and over 100,000 TEU of container capacity, Clean Star is currently the company’s sole ro-ro vessel.
Leveraging the strategic advantages of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, the company is moving from regional coastal and short-sea shipping to long-haul international shipping. Its container and breakbulk networks now link Northeast Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, serving more than 50 domestic and international ports.
The addition of Clean Star is part of Ningbo Ocean Shipping’s larger strategy to diversify its services and meet the increasing global demand for the transportation of electric and hybrid vehicles.
